Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [145]
De Slegte Kalverstraat 48–52 (Old Centre) 020/622 5933. The Amsterdam branch of a nationwide chain specializing in new and used books at a discount. Mon 11am–6pm, Tues–Sat 9.30am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–5pm.
Waterstone’s Kalverstraat 152 (Old Centre) 020/638 3821. Amsterdam branch of the UK high-street chain, with four floors of books and magazines. A predictable selection, but prices are sometimes cheaper here than elsewhere. Sun & Mon 11am–6pm, Tues & Wed 9am–6pm, Thurs 9am–9pm, Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 10am–7pm.
Shopping | Shops | Books and comics |
Secondhand and antiquarian
Boekenmarkt Spui (Old Centre). Open-air book market every Friday 10am–6pm.
The Book Exchange Kloveniersburgwal 58 (Old Centre) 020/626 6266. Large and rambling old shop with a friendly American proprietor, and a great selection of secondhand books in English. Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 11.30am–4pm.
Book Traffic Leliegracht 50 (Grachtengordel west) 020/620 4690. An excellent and well-organized selection of mostly secondhand books. Mon–Fri 11am–6pm, Sat 11am–6pm & Sun noon–5pm.
Brinkman Singel 319 (Grachtengordel west) 020/623 8353, www.antiquariaatbrinkman.nl. A stalwart of the Amsterdam antiquarian book trade, Brinkman has occupied the same premises for forty years. Lots of good local stuff. Corner Ramsteeg. Mon–Fri 10am–5pm & Sat 11am–5pm.
Egidius Haarlemmerstraat 87 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/624 3255. A good selection of literature, art and poetry, plus a gallery selling lithographs. Tues–Fri 11am–6pm, Sat 11am–5pm.
Fenix Frans Halsstraat 88 (De Pijp, Outer districts) 020/673 9459. General secondhand bookstore, with piles of stuff stacked up on the floor. A good range of books in English, with the emphasis on Celtic literature, history and culture. Tues–Sat noon–6pm.
De Kloof Kloveniersburgwal 44 (Old Centre) 020/622 3828, www.kloof.nl. Enormous, higgledy-piggledy used bookshop on four floors – great for a rummage. Lots of titles in English, especially on law, history, science and philosophy. Thurs–Sat 1.30–5.30pm.
A. Kok Oude Hoogstraat 14 (Old Centre) 020/623 1191. Vintage and secondhand bookstore, especially strong on prints and maps. Mon–Fri 9.30am–6pm, Sat 9.30am–5pm.
Magic Galaxies Oude Schans 140 (Old Centre) 020/627 6261. Run from home by a couple whose spare time is spent collecting science fiction, fantasy and other esoteric books, many of which are in English. Call first.
Oudemanhuispoort Book Market Mon–Fri 11am–4pm. See "Kloveniersburgwal".
Shopping | Shops | Books and comics |
Art and architecture
Architectura & Natura Leliegracht 22 (Grachtengordel west) 020/623 6186, www.architectura.nl. Books on architecture and interior design. An eclectic collection with many English titles. Mon noon–6pm, Tues 9am–6pm, Wed–Fri 9am–6.30pm, Sat 10am–6pm.
Boekie Woekie Berenstraat 16 (Grachtengordel west) 020/639 0507. Books on – and by – leading Dutch artists and graphic designers. Entertaining postcards too. Daily noon–6pm.
Mendo Berenstraat 11 (Grachtengordel west) 020/612 1216. Stylish, à la mode bookshop specializing in architecture, art, interior design, photography and graphic design. Mon–Sat noon–5.30pm, Sun 1–5pm.
Nijhoff en Lee Staalstraat 13a (Old Centre) 020/620 39 80. This small corner store specializes in art, architecture and design titles, and is especially good on the art of printing, typography and lithography. Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–6pm.
Robert Premsela Van Baerlestraat 78 (Museum Quarter and Vondelpark) 020/662 4266. Great art and architecture book specialist, with lots of stuff in English. Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5.30pm, Sun 11am–5pm.
Shopping | Shops | Books and comics |
Comics
Gojoker Zeedijk 31a (Old Centre) 020/620 5078. Classic and contemporary comic store. Mon & Sat 11am–6pm, Tues–Fri 10am–7pm (Thurs till 9pm), closed for lunch.
Lambiek Kerkstraat 132 (Grachtengordel south) 020/626 7543, www.lambiek.nl. The city’s largest, oldest and best comic bookshop and gallery, with an international