Oudemanhuispoort Amsterdam
Old books market
Right in the centre of the city, in a hidden passage between buildings, a daily book market takes place. The market dates back to 1879, when a book market that was established at the Botermarkt (now Rembrandtplein) was closed down and the booksellers moved to the Oudemanhuispoort.
The market is arranged in shop cabinets, which were used in the past by sellers of other goods as well. The Oudemanhuispoort building complex was built in the 17th century and was originally used as an Old Men’s and Women’s Hospital. Today, it’s one of the locations of the University of Amsterdam.
Until 1941, the book trade was mainly conducted by Jewish booksellers, but unfortunately, after WWII, only a few of them came back to take their place in the market.
The market still goes on, and second-hand books, historic maps, sheet music, engravings, and old prints can be found here by the patient shopper. It’s one of the few real pieces of Amsterdam that has survived to this day. It is said that Van Gogh himself used to buy books here and paid with paintings when he couldn’t afford them. Through one of the openings in the passage, a green courtyard can also be accessed – the university courtyard.
About this spot
Oudemanhuispoort, 1012 CZ
- 247
A book:
€
5
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