La suite de cette page est en anglais, car le cours est donné en néerlandais ou en anglais.
A course for serious bonsai enthusiasts who want to advance their trees: refinement, character, and consistency in Japanese tradition.
For whom
- You are an enthusiastic and eager bonsai lover who wants to learn more about styling and related aspects.
- You have at least 2 years of experience and can wire a tree.
- All types of outdoor bonsai; you bring your tree to the course location.
- Small group with intensive guidance (maximum 6 participants). You commit to attending all lessons.
Course leader Edwin prefers to form a steady group. The group is limited to 6 people so that you receive plenty of personal attention. Participants are given priority for the follow-up course.
What you will learn
- Advanced styling: branch selection, jins and shari, calm and precise wiring.
- Fine care: bud management, leaf and needle techniques, root rejuvenation.
- Aesthetics: proportions, pot and presentation, seasons and rhythm.
- Work planning per tree: from sketch to multi-year plan.
- Acquisition of bonsai starter material.
Practical details
- Dates: Wednesday evenings October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
- Time: Doors open 19:15 · Start 19:30 – 22:00
- Location: Bonsai Plaza, Omloop 4, 2771 NL Boskoop
- Parking: generally sufficient on the Bonsai Plaza premises
- Fee: €185 incl. VAT. Direct payment to Edwin Koppers (Bonsai Plaza offers this at cost, without margin)
- Included: coffee and tea provided by Bonsai Plaza · Bonsai, tools, wire and accessories to be brought or purchased (possible during the course) · additional drinks (soft drinks, alcohol-free beer) €1,00 in the course fund
- Language: Dutch or English
- Group size: maximum 6 participants
Instructor
Edwin Koppers has been active in bonsai for about 30 years and studied with Marco Invernizzi, Teunis-Jan Klein, Marc Noelanders and Carlos van der Vaart. As an active member of the Dutch bonsai community he gives workshops such as “Drawing Bonsai,” showing how sketching trees helps to understand structure and shaping. This year he is forming a new course group at Bonsai Plaza and shares his experience with enthusiasm.
Programme (spread across the evenings)
The evenings consist of tree discussions, making drawings/plans, and guidance in pruning, wiring and styling. You will learn, among other things:
- Analysis and plan per tree (observation, priorities, sketch if needed).
- Techniques: demonstration and guided practice.
- Care protocol and aftercare.
- Acquisition of bonsai starter material.
- Presentation.
Registration
Please send an e-mail with your name, phone number and experience to [email protected]. For questions, call Edwin at +31 624119339 (he will call back if not available). Registration closes on September 15.
Conditions
- Limited places: allocation in order of payment.
- Please bring: your own bonsai (preferably a work tree), tools, wire and accessories.
- Photography: allowed and encouraged, e.g. for evaluation of your work.