Book shopping in The Netherlands
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Stadsboekwinkel
Run by the city printer, this is the best source for books about Amsterdam’s history, urban development, ecology and politics. Most titles are in Dutch (you can always look at the pictures), but you’ll also find some in English. It’s in the Stadsarchief (Municipal Archives) building.
reviewed
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Cityboek
We normally wouldn’t list shops selling souvenir posters, but this small publishing house is an exception, with precisely drawn, multicoloured, architecturally faithful prints, books and postcards of Amsterdam’s canalscapes (eg images of the entire Herengracht or Singel).
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Waterstone's
This British chain of bookstores has an extensive range. Four storeys and a central location, near Spui Square, make this store a great resource for English-language books (which are often discounted). There's an emphasis on travel guidebooks, magazines, newspapers and novels.
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Boekie Woekie
While other shops handle art books, this artist-run bookstore sell books as art, created by artists specifically for this medium. Some tell stories (elegantly illustrated, naturally); others are riffs on graphic motifs. You may want to browse for a long time.
reviewed
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Book market
In the old arcade between Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Kloveniersburgwal (blink and you'll miss either entrance), this is the place to find that 19th-century copy of Das Kapital or a semantic analysis of Icelandic sagas, and some newer books and art prints.
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Athenaeum Bookshop & Newsagency
This enormous bookstore lures in academics, journalists and students. Athenaeum's strengths are its history, language, classics and psychology titles. The separate news agency has the city's largest selection of international newspapers and magazines.
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De Drvkkery
De Drvkkery is one of the country’s best bookshops. It has an excellent magazine selection, a cafe, internet access, art and photography displays on the walls – and oodles of books, including a huge travel section.
reviewed
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Nou Moe Stripwinkel
This tiny corner shop features everything from Asterix to Garfield, Tintin to 24 (yes, that 24 ). More importantly, it sells the merchandise: soft toys, notebooks, stickers, games, coffee mugs and bedroom slippers.
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Au Bout du Monde
From angels to Zen, this tranquil two-storey shop stocks books on Eastern and Western philosophy, Tibetan Buddhism, Freud, alternative medicine and pretty much anything else for your religious, psychological or spiritual needs.
reviewed
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Lambiek
Comics specialist Lambiek has been in operation since 1968, stocking an impressive range of underground comics and newspaper strips, along with classics such as Tintin and Asterix. A gallery displays new comix-inspired art.
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Filmantiquariaat Cine Qua Non
An encyclopedic collection of film posters, arthouse DVDs and books on films fills this dusty, crammed space. Amazingly, if you ask for something specific, the staff will know exactly where it is in the organised chaos.
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International Theatre & Film Books
In the Stadsschouwburg building, this excellent shop is crammed with books on its namesake subjects, as well as speciality sections on, for example, musicals and famous directors. The majority of titles are in English.
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Oudemanhuis Book Market
A favourite with academics, this moody old covered alleyway connecting two streets is lined with second-hand booksellers. Most of the material is in Dutch, but one vendor specialises in cookbooks, many in English.
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Architectura & Natura
This charming canalside shop has art, architecture, design, landscape and coffee-table books. Upstairs, Architectuurantiquariat Opbouw has a selection of its namesake.
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Athenaeum
Amsterdam’s savviest bookshop is a bit of an intellectual and style hub. Its adjoining newsagency has cutting-edge international magazines, newspapers and guidebooks.
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Mendo
The Mendo graphic-design agency runs this smart, black-walled bookshop specialising in books in the creative realm: art, design, architecture, fashion and photography.
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Antiquariaat Kok
A wide and engaging range of used and antiquarian stock (literature, coffee-table books, old prints etc) is sold here, including biology, art and architecture titles.
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Nijhof & Lee
Design fans will want to head here for a swell selection of international architecture, art and typography books and posters in an intimate but contemporary setting.
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Fotografia
This classy shop is as simple as a photo lab and stocked full of publications featuring the likes of Alfred Stieglitz, Charlotte Dumas, Rineke Dijkstra and Magritte.
reviewed
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Het Fort Van Sjakoo
Get the low-down on the squat scene, plus locally produced zines and Trotsky translations, at this lefty bookshop, which has been in operation since 1977.
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English Bookshop
This attractive canalside shop has a well-chosen selection of English-language biographies, novels and translations of the works of Dutch writers.
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Intermale
For gay books, try Intermale, with 1½ floors of photo books, sexy mags, videos and porno postcards.
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Vrolijk
This place stocks major gay and lesbian magazines, as well as novels, guidebooks, postcards, art, poetry and DVD's.
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American Book Center
Amsterdam’s biggest selection of English-language books, travel guides, newspapers and magazines.
reviewed
