When Rotterdam comes to mind, I think of modern architecture, busy harbors, and grey skies. What wasn’t anticipated was the plethora of bookstores nestled in the city.
On a swift day trip, we GOT to some #inreallife book store exploring.
Donner is an impressive landmark in Rotterdam, a grand and beautiful establishment stretching across several floors. Alongside a coffee shop and a second-hand section, it serves a diverse clientele. As the most commercial bookstore we visited, Donner still managed to charm us with its wide selection of magazines in various languages, showcasing an immense collection that beckoned any book lover.
Our favored spot was the intimate and excellently stocked Van Gennep. It epitomizes the ideal bookstore with a judiciously selected range of literature, arts, photography, and children's books. It stands out as a beloved staple in Rotterdam and it’s exactly the type of bookstore that we would love to see our book stocked in.
De Slegte came next, presenting itself as a general all-around bookstore with a broad, albeit standard, selection. It had a little bit of everything, making it a reliable stop for general readers.
The NAI Booksellers bookstore, housed in the foyer of the Nieuwe Instituut offered a niche retreat, focusing on architecture and urban design. This specialized shop, associated with the Nederlands Architectuurinstituut, is a gold mine for those vested in the nuances of our built environments, offering scholarly resources and accessible publications alike. It’s a lovely space, with an attached cafe and of course exhibitions and shows, but it would be wonderful to see them expand their title list out of architecture and urbanism into photography.
Finally, Vide Books presented a fresh perspective as a new art/design bookstore. Located inside Huidenclub this is a great space with clearly some wonderful shows. With a curated selection of books that touch on contemporary culture, graphic design, and artistic research, it's a space that also ties into the local exhibition scene with related titles and hosts vibrant events and book launches.
Each bookstore we visited not only had its character, vibe, and identity, but they all had great staff. Looking forward to heading back now to check some other shops and start spreading our titles across the Netherlands.