Books have been around for centuries and even though the medium has been called old-fashioned and obsolete, it keeps coming back for good. The reason? A good book has no match. What books, stories, or comics you like reading is, of course, personal, but we can tell you where to buy them in Rotterdam.
Here are five of our favourite places to browse, buy, and leave with a heavier bag than you planned:
1. Donner Rotterdam
Donner in Rotterdam
If you want range, start at Donner. Right in the city centre, reminder friendly shelves sit alongside new releases, stationery, gifts, puzzles and games, plus a substantial used books section. It is the sort of shop where you can come in with a list and still get distracted by whatever is on the tables. Anything you might need or want in a book as well as magazines, calendars, office supplies, antique books, second-hand books, games, presents and music, you will find here.
2. Boekhandel v/h Van Gennep
Van Gennep is a cosy little individual bookshop in the city centre. Their collection ranges from fiction over poetry to cooking and children’s books. Good service, quiet and relaxed atmosphere and always surprising. And if you have one or more children who like to read, bring them and let them settle into the cosy children’s corner, while you can browse the store at leisure.
3. De Slegte
4. Yendor
For all thing’s comic, this is where you go. At Yendor, you will find more adults than children in here at most times, looking for that one Japanese series or the limited-edition comic that used to be no more than an urban legend. If it does exist, these guys have it, or they know about it. People come from far to find comics here. New or second hand. You can also buy fan items such as mugs, games and t-shirts. Of course, you will get mainstream comics here too if that is what floats your boat.
5. KIOSK Rotterdam
If your taste runs to small press, zines, radical and critical nonfiction, poetry and prints, KIOSK is the place to put in your diary. It is a bookshop and riso studio with short opening windows, which makes it feel like a secret you can actually visit.
6. Vide Books
Vide Books is a small independent bookshop focused on contemporary art, design, visual culture and experimental publishing. It sits on the **mezzanine level inside Huidenclub, an art and culture space in Delfshaven.
Vide Books is a small but distinctive independent bookshop in Rotterdam focused on art, design, visual culture and contemporary publishing. It lives inside Huidenclub on Pelgrimsstraat, with a curated collection that reflects current ideas in graphic practice, photography and creative theory — much more than just “books on shelves.” The shop often hosts book launches, talks and events tied to its programme and exhibitions at Huidenclub, so it’s worth checking before you visit if anything special is on.
7. De Kleine Kapitein (Kinderboekpost)
De Kleine Kapitein: one of Rotterdam’s best known children’s bookshops
This is one of Rotterdam’s best known children’s bookshops, right in the city centre, on Botersloot. De Kleine Kapitein built for proper browsing: shelves packed with children’s books across ages, plus challenging toys, puzzles and games, and plenty of gift friendly picks. The shop also runs Kinderboekpost, its online store, which carries a selection of the wider in-store range.
Tips for speciality books:
- Architecture, design and urbanism: NAi Booksellers at Het Nieuwe Instituut (bookshop in the lobby)
- Art books with exhibitions energy: MELLY Bookshop and Café at Kunstinstituut Melly
- Borrowing instead of buying: Bibliotheek Rotterdam (Central Library)
