Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Van Kleef Aquarium
Making waves
FISH watching at the Van Kleef Aquarium was part of many a family's weekend outing for over three decades. The aquarium opened in September 1955.

Located at the foot of Fort Canning Hill along River Valley Road,
Singapore's first aquarium was home to more than 6,000 aquatic creatures and was a favourite stop on school excursions.

Entrance fees were 30 cents for adults and 20 cents for children when it first opened. These went up to $1 and 50 cents respectively by the the 1990s.

King of the aquariums
The aquarium was named after the late Mr K.W.B. Van Kleef, a former Dutch resident in Singapore, who had donated $470,000 for its construction.

The aquarium saw close to 400,000 visitors annually in the 70s. British author Somerset Maugham was so impressed with it on a visit to Singapore in 1960 that he called Van Kleef 'easily one of the best in this part of the world'.

After a $750,000 facelift in 1986, the popular tourist spot reopened 18 months later to greet visitors with 50 new rare species such as a baby freshwater shark, fire eels and hairy turtles.

Toppled by competition
But the revamped Van Kleef met with mixed reactions. Visitors complained about the lack of information on the creatures on display, and asked for leaflets - which the management said it could not afford.

Van Kleef eventually closed in May 1991, two weeks after the $20-million Underwater World Singapore opened at Sentosa.

I think it's really sad how the aquarium came to its watery end! :( especially the last sentence, heart breaking. Mr KWB Van Kleef must be so sad to see his aquarium go. I've been there before and i remembered it as a fun experience, i even have photos to show for it! too bad it lost to competition :( hai. damn sad la.

Mrs Brightside at 1:38 pm

{xoxo}