Archives for “books” tag

I like independent bookstores. They almost all have to struggle hard to compete with the large chain stores so I think we should all support them.

‘t Stad Leest (the city reads) is a new independent bookstore in the centre of Antwerp and I loved it from the first step I took inside. It’s housed in a historic building, you first walk through a big entrance hall and then you arrive in large space, more clean, white and modern than you would expect from the outside.

No bookcases here, just large white tables with the books on top. I like the fact that you immediately see the cover of each book, you don’t have to bend your head in strange ways to read the title like in other stores. The range of books they sell here is great: contemporary books next to a selection of the classics.

There’s also a good quantity of English novels and a separate department of children books. For me this bookstore is a winner. The atmosphere is great, because it’s so spacious you never feel it’s too busy and they play nice music. My only problem is finding time to read all the books I buy …

‘Kringloopwinkels’ have become real popular in Belgium. Literally it means ‘shop of the circle of life’, and it’s meaning is to give objects a ‘new life’ at someone else’s home. So instead of throwing away what you don’t need anymore, they come pick it up at your home for free, and probably make someone else really happy with it! Also it’s a social project providing job opportunities for people whom have trouble finding work.

All these ‘treasures’ you can go buy at very reasonable prices at the shops, and one of my favourites is ‘de Kringwinkel’ in the Kroonstraat. It has a very funky interior, and often things are arranged thematically. Here you can find just about anything: from fancy china to clothes, furniture (I just bought a vintage sixties dressoir for €20, yay!) to electronics, books and sometimes even a piano! All the goods are tested and cleaned by the personnel, on the electronics you even get a half-year of warranty. Also they have recently started an auction site for real collectibles.

The hype has become so big there are real ‘Kringwinkel-hunters’, people whom drive from one shop to another on a Saturday in hope to find a real treasure, or others whom buy stuff here and make something new out of it. The circle of life, quoi!