Kevin Du Rose, Alan my partner, myself and Mick Bajcar arrived at Dover in the early hours, and quickly boarded the ferry.  Arriving at Ostende, we swept through Customs and were soon on our way, enjoying a bright and sunny Belgian morning.  We sped along the motorway as the temperature steadily climbed into the seventies.  We arrived at Maarn at about 9.30 hours, just as the crowd began to grow.  The Dutch were extremely friendly and helpful, and chatted to us as the doors to the venue opened.
Immediately before us were trestle tables, laid out in a rectangle, with the vendors standing in the middle, all around them the surfaces covered with small tubs and boxes, their contents only hinted-at by the movement of bright colours within.  Upon closer inspection I found D. auratus in various shades of green with myriad patterns, as was D. tinctorius (FG, Taeffelberg, Yellow back, Grey leg, Black and white.... the list went on).  P. tricolor was almost a pest species with frogs going for three guilders each (£1.00).  There were truncatus, vittatus, minutus, femoralis, bicolor, terribilis and several forms of quinquevittatus, all being sold at reasonable prices.  I actually bought three Grey legged tinctorius, about three months old, for £11.00 each.
Having tired ourselves out wandering around the frogs, we went into an adjoining room filled to bursting point with bromeliads and orchids too numerous to mention, and again these were very affordable.  They hung from trellises, from the ceiling, packed in boxes and sprawled across the floor; bargains such as  five potted bromeliads for five pounds, the species of which being your own choice.
Also available, though only in Dutch, was a computer program depicting six or eight different species of Poison Arrow frogs giving topographical information, descriptions and calls, maintenance and breeding advice, all for £25.00.
So, having made our purchases, and having loaded them into the car, we headed off for Ostende in temperatures in the mid-eighties.  This necessitated a number of stops to cool down the frogs.  We got home at about 23.00 hours, completely worn out but too involved in watching the frogs find their way around their vivaria to be tired, finally getting to bed well after midnight.  All in all, a fantastic trip made perfect in the company of friends.  I can't wait for next year!
Steve Martin