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Scheltema bookshop in Amsterdam

A five storeys 3,200-square-meter Scheltema is one of the biggest bookshops in Europe and one of the oldest in the Netherlands (est. 1853). For thirty years at the Koningsplein, this true palace of books moved in May of 2015 to its original 19th C. area in Amsterdam and it is now located on Rokin, in a short walking distance from the Dam Square, almost opposite to the Madame Tussauds and nearby Bijenkorf department store.

Palace of books

For decades specialised in science and educational publications, today the Scheltema is trying to attract the general public towards reading. The new shop is styled after the famous Foyles Bookshop in London. It displays books on 2,2 km length of shelves and on five floors conveniently connected with an escalator and the lift. The bookshop holds constantly in stock about 120,000 books while it receives sometimes more than1,000 new books per day, a large part of them in English.

Scheltema has also a good international magazines section on the ground floor, probably the best in Amsterdam as well as the rich choice of reading glasses. Its large department of remaindered books, so called in Dutch Ramsj, sells at much lower prices interesting leftovers mainly from England and the US. Scheltema sells also used books.

Lectures and signings by known writers

Scheltema organises lectures and signing of the books by known writers as well as festive introductions of the new publications. Check their website for the schedule, the lectures are free, but have in mind that most of the discourses are in Dutch.

Scheltema’s coffee corner is quiet and relaxed - not a bad place for a moment of rest during your visit in the busy Amsterdam centre.

Scheltema bookshop is accessible for the customers on wheelchairs.

Opening hours:

Scheltema bookshop in Amsterdam on the map