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Van Kleef Aquarium

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Date opened
  
8 September 1955

No. of species
  
180

Date closed
  
31 May 1991

No. of animals
  
6,500

Opened
  
8 September 1955

Number of species
  
180

Van Kleef Aquarium singaporemagazinesiforgsgwpcontentuploads18

Location
  
River Valley Road, Singapore

Annual visitors
  
400,000 (1970s)248,000 (1985)

Similar
  
Esplanade Bridge, Fort Tanjong Katong, Merlion Park

Van kleef aquarium in the 1950s


Van Kleef Aquarium was an oceanarium located in Fort Canning Park facing River Valley Road in Singapore. The aquarium was opened in September 1955 and demolished in 1998. The aquarium was named after Karl Willem Benjamin Van Kleef who was Dutch but resided in Singapore in the 19th and early 20th century. Van Kleef donated his fortune to the Singaporean government to build the aquarium after his death. When the aquarium opened it contained 6,500 marine creatures of 180 different species. There were salt water, fresh water and swamp water tanks. The building was fully air-conditioned. 270,000 visitors came in its first year of operation. During the 1970s the average number of visitors was about 400,000 annually. Visitor numbers fell to 248,000 in 1985. The aquarium underwent major renovations from 1986 to 1987. The aquarium was closed during the renovations which cost S$750,000. Unfortunately the number of visitors never reached the peak of the 1970s again. In 1991 Underwater World opened on Sentosa island. Most visitors went to the new aquarium. This led to the decision by the Ministry of National Development of Singapore to close the Van Kleef Aquarium in 1991. The building was demolished in 1996.

Contents

Van Kleef Aquarium Taking Up The Challenge The Van Kleef Aquarium

Van kleef aquarium closed 1991


List of animals in Van Kleef Aquarium

  • Sharks
  • Stone fish
  • Piranhas
  • Crocodiles
  • Sea-snakes
  • Electric Eels

  • Van Kleef Aquarium Singapore ASIA32 SINGAPORE Van Kleef Aquarium

    Van Kleef Aquarium Taking Up The Challenge The Van Kleef Aquarium

    Van Kleef Aquarium The Man Who Loved Singapore Singapore Magazine

    Van Kleef Aquarium singapore Van Kleef Aquarium 1960s ASMK S196 eBay

    Van Kleef Aquarium Remembering Karl Van Kleef and the Van Kleef Aquarium Archives Online

    References

    Van Kleef Aquarium Wikipedia


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