Bookstores for Expat in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, there are many bookstores that cater specifically to an international clientele. These are noticeably concentrated around the University of Amsterdam buildings that are located around the central library, on the Singel Canal, which is right by Spui Square. Also near this square, there is a large book market (de boekenmarktophetspui.nl) that is open on Fridays. This is where you ought to go if you are a collector. Many of the vendors have collections that they only sample at this market, and if you have specific requests about a certain genre, time period or international type of book, you might find a collector who will have what you are looking for, and who will be willing to bring it for you the following Friday.
American Book Centre
Loacated conveniently on the Spui, the American Book Centre offers one of widest collection of books from U.S and UK authors in all of Europe.
Spui 12, 1012 XA Amsterdam
Website: www.abc.nl
Atheneum Boekhandel
The Atheneum Bookstore is probably the most popular location for university students to find their academic necessities. It offers a wide range of English and Dutch literature, as well as diverse topics in both these languages, among others. In addition to the wide range of intellectual, philosophical, political and other subject matters that you will find in this independent establishment, it is worth wandering just around the corner into the Atheneum media centre, where you will be able to find newspapers and journals from a variety of international outlets that are on sale as well.
Spui 14-16 1012 XA Amsterdam
Website: www.athenaeum.nl
Waterstones
Just around the corner from the bookstores compiled on the Spui, you will find a large Waterstones amidst the other department stores and smaller chains and shops along the Kalverstraat. This British chain offers a broad selection of books that are often contemporary publications from the U.K. This store would certainly be a reason to go to the Kalvershop to go shopping, and it may be the best reason, as well.
Kalverstraat 152, 1012 XE
http://www.waterstones.com
An independent, one-man business providing quality used books. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s most probably cheaper here. What makes this store unique compared to the commercial book stores is, of course, the smell of the old books. You can always come across old, rare, out of print books fairly priced. If your have books in good condition, you can sell or exchange them. Just ask.
Kloveniersburgwal 58
1012cx Amsterdam
Tel: 0206266266
The English Bookshop
On one of the Jordaan’s side streets, The English Bookshop might appear small from the outside; however, as soon as you step inside and begin to browse through its carefully selected titles, you will feel your mind expanding. Not only does this intellectually-geared book-lovers’ haven have an impressively fine-tuned corpus of published works, but it also has an active book club.
Lauriergracht 71 1016 RH Amsterdam
Website: http://www.englishbookshop.nl/
