Amsterdam Bookstores

Top Amsterdam Bookstores

Essentially Amsterdam Reader's Choice 2026

The American Book Center

4.7★★★★★

(4588 reviews)

Essentially Amsterdam Reader's Choice 2026

Spui 12, 1012 XA Amsterdam

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The American Book Center is an independent, family-owned bookstore founded in 1972, with its Amsterdam shop among its locations. It stocks a wide selection of English-language books.

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Scheltema

4.7★★★★★

(3649 reviews)

Essentially Amsterdam Reader's Choice 2026

Rokin 9, 1012 KK Amsterdam

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One of Amsterdam's largest bookshops, trading since 1853, with more than 2.5 million titles across new and second-hand books. It offers a vast selection and free delivery on new Dutch-language books.

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Waterstones

4.7★★★★★

(3093 reviews)

Kalverstraat 152, 1012 XE Amsterdam

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Waterstones is a bookshop offering a wide selection of titles across genres, along with gift options. This is its Amsterdam listing.

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The Book Exchange – Used English-language Books

4.7★★★★★

(1158 reviews)

Kloveniersburgwal 58, 1012 CX Amsterdam

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A second-hand bookshop in central Amsterdam, established in 1978. The Book Exchange is one of the largest used bookstores in Europe, where you can buy, sell, and trade books.

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Athenaeum Boekhandel

4.7★★★★★

(872 reviews)

Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam

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Athenaeum Boekhandel is a book store in Amsterdam.

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bookstore Stevens

4.7★★★★★

(683 reviews)

Nieuweweg 63, 2132 CM Hoofddorp

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bookstore Stevens is a book store in Hoofddorp.

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Venstra

4.6★★★★★

(443 reviews)

Stadsplein 102A, 1181 ZM Amstelveen

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Venstra is a book store in Amstelveen.

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Boekhandel De Slegte Amsterdam

4.4★★★★★

(417 reviews)

Vijzelstraat 53, 1017 HE Amsterdam

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Boekhandel De Slegte Amsterdam is a book store in Amsterdam.

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CIGO Brouwer (Lottery, Post, Magazines)

4.3★★★★★

(409 reviews)

Burgemeester de Vlugtlaan 178, 1063 BS Amsterdam

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CIGO Brouwer (Lottery, Post, Magazines) is a book store in Amsterdam.

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Hoogstins Bookstore

4.6★★★★★

(321 reviews)

Kinkerstraat 117, 1053 DL Amsterdam

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Hoogstins is a traditional bookshop with a modern outlook on the Kinkerstraat in Amsterdam. It specialises in contemporary literature and also carries children's books, cookbooks, pens, bags and a range of gifts.

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VU Boekhandel

4.2★★★★★

(314 reviews)

De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam

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VU Boekhandel is a book store in Amsterdam.

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Kok Antiquariaat A

4.7★★★★★

(308 reviews)

Oude Hoogstraat 18, 1012 CE Amsterdam

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Kok Antiquariaat A is a book store in Amsterdam.

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How to choose a bookstore in Amsterdam

Most bookstores in Amsterdam serve the Dutch-language market first, so if you read only in English, check a shop's stock before making a special trip. A smaller cluster of stores near Spui and Kalverstraat specializes in English titles or keeps a dedicated English section alongside the Dutch one.

Decide whether you want new copies or are hunting for secondhand and out-of-print titles, since the city has dedicated shops for both. For more specific recommendations by genre or reading habit, our guide to Amsterdam's bookstores and our roundup of the best bookstores for avid readers break down which shops suit which kind of reader.

Call ahead or check a store's own site if you need a particular title held, since stock varies by shop and staff often need to confirm availability. If a morning of browsing near Spui turns into lunchtime, the directory of Amsterdam restaurants can help you find something nearby afterward.

Questions people ask

Do Amsterdam bookstores carry books in English?

Most Amsterdam bookstores stock primarily Dutch-language books, but a handful specialize in English titles and several general bookshops keep a dedicated English section. The English-language and English-heavy shops cluster mainly around Spui and Kalverstraat in the city center.

Where can I find secondhand or antiquarian books in Amsterdam?

A few dedicated secondhand bookshops in the city carry large English-language stock across genres such as fiction, sci-fi and art history. The city also holds a long-running secondhand and antiquarian book market every Friday on the Spui square, with dealers selling in several languages.

Are there bookstores that specialize in art, architecture or academic books?

Yes. Amsterdam has specialist bookshops focused on art, architecture, urban design and academic subjects, several clustered near the Museum Quarter and Spui, and these tend to carry titles a general bookstore's small foreign-language shelf would not.

Can I buy English-language children's books in Amsterdam?

Some of the larger bookstores keep a dedicated English children's section covering both classic titles and recent releases. If a specific title matters, it is worth checking stock or calling ahead, since children's English inventory varies more by shop than adult fiction does.

Do Amsterdam bookstores offer student or teacher discounts?

Some independent bookstores offer a discount to students, teachers or seniors at the till, but this is not a city-wide policy. Ask staff directly when you check out, since terms and eligibility vary by shop.

What is the Spui book market?

The Boekenmarkt op het Spui is a weekly market on the Spui square selling secondhand and antiquarian books, often in Dutch, English and other languages. It runs on Fridays and is a good option for out-of-print titles or genre hunting beyond what any single shop stocks.