Simon
Simon van der Velde
Pond Specialist & Aquatic Plant Grower
My name is Simon van der Velde. I am the founder of vdvelde.com, an aquatic plant grower, and the author of the Pond Advice book.
I've been working with Aquatic plants natural ponds my whole life.
My mission is to enhance biodiversity and reconnect people with nature.
We see that cities are growing and that nature is under increasing pressure.
That is why we grow eco-friendly Aquatic plants in a sustainable manner and carefully test all our pond products.
Together, we help nature. Water brings life, and that’s where it all begins.
Want a healthy pond without a pump or filter? We can help 6-step plan.
Connect with Nature
Simon van der Velde
How it all began in 1972…
At the age of 9, fishing was Simon van der Velde’s biggest hobby and pastime. After school, he caught baitfish for the local shopkeeper in the village. Since he was very good at fishing and earned 10 cents per fish, this provided him with a nice little pocket money. One day, Simon fell into the water and went under. Soaking wet, he still went to deliver his roughly 20 fish and received 2 guilders for them. When Simon stood in the store, soaking wet, the shopkeeper picked a water plant off his wet coat. The shopkeeper put the aquatic plant in the goldfish bowl and gave Simon 25 cents. Simon quickly calculated that 25 cents was more than 10 cents and asked if the shopkeeper Aquatic plants any more Aquatic plants . This was indeed the case. Interest in Aquatic plants sparked. Soon, a lively trade flourished.
Learn more about
How it all began in 1972…
Simon van der Velde
And what happens next?
1986
Tempting Offer
1987
African Adventures
1995
A New Home Base
1998
International Expansion
2012
Chris Joins
2020
Digitizing Simons' Knowledge
2022
Launch of Pond book *Simons Pond book
2023
Introduction to vdvelde.com
2025
The Future
From pioneer to sustainability specialist.
From grower to knowledge partner.
From local family business to European player.
The core remains the same: strong plants. Ethical cultivation. A love of nature.
In 2025, we invested in a fully sustainable nursery powered by natural energy.
No gas. No artificial lighting. No forced cultivation.
With a highly insulated double-layer roof, we make the most of the sun and heat. Rainwater is collected and reused. Plants grow in tune with the seasons, developing stronger root systems and greater resilience.
Connect with Nature
Simon's Vision
You’re seeing more and more advice to test your pond water for KH, GH, and pH levels. Don’t be tempted to buy all sorts of testing kits and water conditioners. None of that is necessary: if your fish are swimming happily and the plants are growing well, then the water in your pond is of good quality. Those are the true indicators!
More beautiful every year
Garden centers typically Aquatic plants a wide variety of Aquatic plants , most of which, unfortunately, are not hardy. This means you have to Aquatic plants new pond plants every year… We have deliberately chosen a small selection of entirely hardy Aquatic plants, which make it easy to create a clear, biologically balanced water feature.
35 years of sharing expertise
With the right approach and a good planting plan, you can save a lot of money and reduce maintenance. The planting plan directly affects factors such as the depth of the pond. So don’t start digging first and only think about the planting plan afterward—do it the other way around. Plants are very capable of filtering the water themselves and keeping it clear, clean, and healthy. A good planting plan ensures that algae have little to no chance of growing.
Simon's 6-step plan for a naturally biologically balanced pond without a pond pump, filter, or chemicals
A few of Simon's projects at a glance
Simon van der Velde has contributed to the design, construction, and maintenance of well-balanced ponds at over a thousand locations. His expertise ranges from mini ponds and garden ponds to large water features for government agencies. Thanks to his knowledge, he helps prevent common mistakes, which can save costs.
Simons Pond Advice of practical information and tips for a virtually maintenance-free pond
A few of Simon's international projects
Thanks in part to his global network, Simon has been involved in numerous international projects, ranging from large private ponds to community lakes. He has traveled to more than 50 countries and can offer advice on all types of water features. Van der Velde Aquatic plants also Aquatic plants plants throughout Europe.
