When it comes to creating a visually stunning planted aquarium, aquascapers often face a big decision: Should you use the iconic Dutch Style Streets or experiment with alternative plant layouts? This guide dives deep into both approaches, exploring their principles, pros and cons, and which method best suits your aquascaping goals.

What Are Dutch Style Streets?

The Dutch Style aquascape is all about organized plant arrangements and vibrant color contrasts. Dutch Streets refer to meticulously organized rows — or “streets” — of stem plants. Each street showcases a single plant species, placed in neat, flowing groups. This layout is famous for its high plant diversity, bold color blocks, and layered visual depth.

Key Features of Dutch Style Streets

• Plant Diversity: Usually 10+ species in a 60cm tank.
• Contrasting Plant Groups: Adjacent “streets” provide dramatic color, leaf shape, and height differences.
• Tidy Rows: Each species is separated and pruned for a clean, layered appearance.
• No Hardscape Dominance: Rocks and driftwood play very minor roles, if any.
• Emphasis on Maintenance: Requires regular trimming and expert plant care.

Alternatives to Dutch Style Streets

Not every aquascaper wants the classic Dutch look. There are several alternative plant grouping and layout techniques for planted aquariums, each offering unique strengths and personalities.

Nature Aquarium Style

Pioneered by Takashi Amano, this approach favors naturalistic layouts inspired by terrestrial landscapes. Arrangements are more free-flowing, often focused on hardscape elements like stones and driftwood. Plant groupings blend together with smooth gradient transitions and fewer species than Dutch systems.

Island and Triangle Layouts

These are popular for their strong focal points and balanced negative space. Plants are often arranged in island-like mounds or along triangular guides, using foreground, midground, and background layering.

Iwagumi Style

This minimalist layout puts rocks at center stage, with just one or two plant species creating a serene, open look. The focus is more on the overall composition rather than plant diversity or dense grouping.

Dutch Style vs Alternatives: Main Differences

Which Layout Should You Choose?

Go for Dutch Style Streets if:

• You love vibrant colors and plant variety.
• You enjoy meticulous maintenance and precise trimming.
• Hardscape is less important to your vision.
• Competing in Dutch aquascaping contests interests you.
• You want your aquatic plants to be the true stars.

Try Alternatives if:

• You want a natural, “wild” look or Zen-style minimalism.
• Hardscape design excites you.
• You prefer lower-maintenance aquascapes.
• You want more creativity in grouping and transitions.
• You’re inspired by nature scenes or artistic landscapes.

Tips for Deciding Your Aquascape Layout

• Assess your maintenance commitment and time.
• Think about which aquatic plants you want to grow.
• Consider your experience level: Dutch is challenging for beginners.
• Draw inspiration from award-winning aquascapes.
• Start simple, then evolve your style over time.

Conclusion

Both Dutch Style Streets and alternative layouts offer unique ways to express creativity and passion in planted aquariums. Whether you crave precise rows and riotous color or the tranquil flow of a Nature Aquarium, the best choice is the one that inspires you every time you look at your tank.

For more in-depth aquascaping ideas, check out our guides on plant grouping techniques and hardscape layout principles to further refine your aquascaping skills.

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