Most of you will probably not be able to visit this new bookstore, because it is in The Netherlands. Since I find it so utterly fantastic, and since I have more and more Dutch readers, I post about it anyway. If you aren’t Dutch and plan on visiting this country, make sure to visit this bookstore. I plan to go there as soon as I get the chance.
I love this bookstore so much, because it is housed in a Dominican church in Maastricht. The church was built in 1294. Recently it was converted into a bookstore. A have to say: it looks very dramatic. It is without doubt the most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen. Click here to visit their website. Unfortunately it is only available in Dutch.
The best thing is yet to come. A Dutch magazine put some photo’s on their website. I am sure you will enjoy them, even if you aren’t Dutch. Click here to see the most fantastic bookstore you have ever seen. (If you disagree and know of a better one: please let me know!)
Kimbooktu.com 
[drooling] I love it!
I’d love to visit but – where is it? I come to Amsterdam frequently – can I get to this bookstore in an afternoon trip?
@ Hazel: The bookstore is in Maastricht. It takes you about two hours to get from Amsterdam to Maastricht.
Wow, that’s gorgeous!
I’m not surprised since Catholic churches from that period are just beautiful. I get mixed feelings about the church been converted into a bookstore instead of functioning for what it should be, but I love books as well and I’m glad they left the architecture intact for people to enjoy. This like combining my two heavens. Thanks for sharing.
The Book’s Den
@ Clary: I understand your mixed feelings. But you have to understand something. Churches in The Netherlands are becoming vacant, because less and less people are religious. The most up and coming religion in my country is Islam. We have loads and loads of churches and cathedrals. It is a shame most of them are not used for anything anymore. Usually vacant churches are converted into apartment buildings or shopping malls.
Therefore I applaud the idea of converting one into a book store. The best thing is… The bookstore paid for the restoration of the church. It had fallen into disrepair. The paintings on the ceilings were hidden under a layer of paint. The bookstore invested to show the church to its former glory. This is, in my opinion a good thing. Hopefully the visitors will now accept literature as their new religion.
How gorgeous!!
[…] Do you remember my post about that fantastic Dutch bookstore housed in a church? (If not, click here to read it.) I never had the chance to visit it, since it is about a 2,5 hours drive from my city. […]
The most fantastic one I’ve seen is in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a bookstore which stocks special imported books from many countries as well as local fare. It is called BACI LOUNGE. See their website for some pictures, although they don’t show the gorgrous chairs, decorating, architecture, light-boxes etc. Visit http://www.baci.co.nz