Tag: Haarlem

5 places for book lovers – Haarlem

I moved to the Netherlands four and a half years ago and there are still so many cities I haven’t been to. Exploring new places is exciting for me, but I sometimes find it difficult to go to a place if I don’t have something in particular I want to visit there. So, when I started this blog, I thought it might be nice to combine my interest in travelling and exploring new places with finding great places for book lovers. The idea for my city guides was born and I am proud to present you my first edition:

Bookshop exterior in Haarlem, the Netherlands – city guide for book lovers

Haarlem is such a charming town and I think I would also enjoy living there a lot. Cute independent shops, cafes with delicious food and the atmosphere of small town. Grab a cup of tea and join me on my trip to Haarlem.

1. De Vries van Stockum – book shop

This book shop sells new books only – but about every topic possible. The interior of the shop invites you to stay awhile and discover. The shop used to be five different smaller shops but around 100 years ago, they broke down the walls to make it one big shop. While the shop is modern, traces from the past can be found everywhere: The old timber and painting peeling off.
What is special about this book shop is the events they are hosting: They invite you to taste dishes from a recently published cook book or bring people together to form a book club. Just to name a few.

Interior of a Haarlem bookshop hosting book clubs and cookbook events

De Vries Van Stockum, Gedempte Oude Gracht 27, 2011 GK Haarlem
Opening times are:
Monday: 12.00 – 18.00
Tuesday – Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 12.00 – 17.00
http://www.devriesboeken.nl/

2. De Groene Godin – 2nd hand book shop

The shop signs of this book shop are already special to me and inviting. The shop itself is rather small and offers a wide variety of items: books, board games and small gifts. The bookshop itself is one room which invites you to find hidden treasures of the genres fantasy, SciFi and fairy tales. The second room of the shop is more a living room with a large table surrounded by games. When I visited, a group of people were busy playing a game, so I didn’t take a picture of the room itself.

Games room in a Haarlem bookshop with a large communal table

Every last Friday of the month, you can join other like-minded for a games night. Watch also the event overview for concerts.

Monthly games night at a bookshop in Haarlem, the Netherlands

De Groene Godin, Kleine Houtstraat 84 2011 DR  Haarlem
Opening times: Wednesday – Saturday: 10.30 – 18.00
https://degroenegodin.nl/

3. Antiquariaat Hovingh

This book shop really offers something for everyone – novels, history books, posters and postcards. The interior of the shop is a dream: books and books everywhere you look. There is even a hidden hallway you can discover! Being in the shop does not feel like being in a book shop, it feels more like exploring the huge book collection of a friend and really invites you to stay.

Cosy bookshop interior in Haarlem that feels like a friend's private library
  • Shelves filled with curated books in a Haarlem independent bookshop
  • Wooden bookshelves in a Haarlem book lover's paradise
  • Inviting book display in a Haarlem bookshop

Antiquariaat Hovingh, Kleine Houtstraat 50, 2011 DP Haarlem
Opening times are: Every day, from 11.00
http://hovinghantiquariaat.nl/

4. Teylers Museum – Library

The museum itself is definitely worth a visit: It offers a lot to learn and see for everyone interested in science and also art. However, my personal highlight – and the reason I went to the museum in the first place – is the library.

Historic library in a Haarlem museum – a highlight for book lovers

Walking into this old and huge room was astonishing. You can only visit the library on a guided tour – and it is definitely worth it. Make sure to check with the museum when the tours take place because at the moment I could not find the information on their website. You can, however, make an appointment to visit the library and reading room or make a group reservation for a tour to the library.

Reading room inside a Haarlem library – available by appointment
Library interior in Haarlem – tall shelves and reading tables

Teylers Museum, Spaarne 16, 2011 CH Haarlem
Opening times are:
Tuesday – Friday: 10.00 – 17.00
Saturday + Sunday: 11.00 – 17.00
https://www.teylersmuseum.nl/

5. Sjakie Small – Shop

Wow, this shop has everything – paper, books, lamps, soaps, lunch boxes, candles, and so much more. I somehow believe that book lovers also love stationary and notebooks and Sjakie Small definitely has you covered: They have the most beautiful notebooks which look like a normal hardcover book. Almost everything in the shop is fair trade and you are not allowed to enter the shop if you wear real fur – a great concept to me.

Fair trade bookshop in Haarlem with ethically sourced books
Book display in a fair trade Haarlem bookshop – no real fur allowed
Exterior or window display of a fair trade bookshop in Haarlem

Sjakie Small, Koningstraat 34, 2011TD Haarlem (There are two shops, I only visited the Sjakie Small)
Opening times are:
Tuesday – Friday: 11.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 13.00 – 17.00
https://www.sjakies.com/contact

I hope you enjoyed the little trip to beautiful Haarlem. Next month, we are going to explore my current hometown The Hague.