Want to brush up on your reading at some of the best bookstores in the Netherlands’ capital? Here’s our top ten recommended spots.
If you don’t know anything about the Netherlands’ literary scene, here’s a list to get you started on the best bookstores for book browsing and event-hopping.
Boekhandel Scheltema
Don’t let this bookstore’s sleek, polished look fool you: it’s been around since 1853 and is one of the oldest bookshops in the Netherlands. That’s mostly because it moved to a new, five-story location in 2015, giving it a second title as one of the biggest bookstores in Europe. It’s not just for show, either, as it has a 125,000-strong book collection to match.
Its English selection isn’t huge, but it’s high-quality, and the store as a whole is wheelchair-friendly. You can also join in on author events, book launches, and more, making it a great place to get in touch with Amsterdam’s literary scene.
Boekhandel Van Rossum
Van Rossum is a surefire winner for the Instagram crowd. Its creative, whimsical design is sure to delight any book lover who wanders inside.
While mainly focused on Dutch volumes, including a great children’s section, it has a decent English selection of high-quality titles.
Van Rossum is also big on community, hosting writing classes and literary events to promote local authors.
Mendo
Mendo is a bookstore focusing on art, photography, fashion, and design. True to its specialization, its luxuriant interior gives off a modern art gallery vibe, with large coffee table books displayed for careful effect. It’s definitely on the high-end of bookstores, emphasizing limited-edition titles and collector’s items.
The space isn’t purely for show, either. It hosts literary and art events, from book signings to exhibitions, touting itself as a center for Dutch creativity.
Waterstones
Waterstones is part of a UK bookstore chain, but you wouldn’t know that just by looking at their Amsterdam branch. While its interior is what you’d expect of a modern bookstore, its exterior architecture is stunning, reminiscent of the Beaux Art style’s intricate detailing. With this four-story bookstore, it can be an adventure to find its hidden reading nooks. These offer elegant (if sometimes worn) seating and amazing views of the picturesque street.
Athenaeum Bookstore & News Center
This independent bookshop sits in the heart of Amsterdam and is filled with a surprising array of titles that are hard to find elsewhere, including out-of-print materials. It also has a fantastic selection of international magazines and newspapers so you can keep track of what’s going on around the globe.
Like the previous two shops, it has multiple floors, so there is a lot to see and tons of resources to look up.
The Book Exchange
The Book Exchange is a secondhand bookshop crammed from floor to ceiling with rows and stacks of books. It doesn’t have a lot of flash or style, but it promises a diverse collection of books of every stripe and shape.
Its biggest selling point is its trading system that allows customers to exchange their used books for store credit or a volume off the store’s shelves. It’s affordable and community-oriented, encouraging locals and tourists alike to mingle with one another’s interests and try new things.
Architectura & Natura
Interested in architecture for buildings and beyond? Here’s a specialty bookstore for you. As its name implies, Architectura & Natura centers around titles having to do with architecture, landscaping, gardening, and natural history. They don’t just deal in local architecture, either, but from around the world – in the US, Japan, Spain, Italy, and more.
The shop is relatively small, but it has English-speaking staff and a slew of English-language books. If you have any interest in architecture, it’s a must-visit.
The American Book Center (ABC)
This independent, family-run business has been around since 1972 selling English-language books. Don’t let its blunt, warehouse-style storefront fool you: its interior is full of fun and innovative twists in design thanks to a tree trunk shooting up from the ground floor. Surrounding the tree, you can easily find shelves stocked with the store’s expansive collection of titles both popular and obscure.
In addition, the American Book Center sponsors numerous literary events and activities throughout the year.
Pantheon Bookstore
Pantheon Bookstore is a great place to find a diverse selection of books, including literature, children’s books, cookbooks, local history, and non-fiction. It’s also notable for housing a specialized section for travel on the first floor. On the Pantheon website, it lists literary news and the latest events, such as children’s book week and prize announcements.
Amsterdam Book Market
Though not technically a bookstore, you can’t talk about literature in Amsterdam without mentioning the book market. Every Friday, around twenty stands of rare and secondhand booksellers pop up in Spui. Books are the main feature, but you can also find stalls selling art pieces, maps, and so on. Prices are an absolute steal, going as low as one euro. (Cash only!)
Even if you’re just swinging by, it’s a great experience to browse the wares and discover something new and unexpected.
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K Lou
K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
