Athenaeum Boekhandel Spui en Nieuwscentrum

A bookshop were you will get lost, but at least there are a lot of sofas and books to keep you company while you find your way to the door. The interior is the creation of a mad man. Up, down and middle floors all connected together. It has a nice section with discounted books in one of the down levels. Weird books and various items give the shop a more “independent” kind of style.

Amazing bookshop with variety of English books on poetry, design, art, fashion and zines!

As soon as you pass by the little square, it already stands out with its well-organized showcase combining the books with its royal blue architecture. It has two floors of books in Dutch and English (which helps a lot), magazines, manuals, coffee table books, and each cover is one more beautiful than other. I remember buying a magazine for my boyfriend and it was delicately wrapped in red, white-striped gift paper, just like the awning on the facade. And then the Dutch details begin, without making the slightest effort. Oh! If I'm not mistaken, on Wednesdays there is still a book fair in the square in front. It's charming!

The shop is great. I wish there was a shop like this in every city. The employer Marc is the best, and he knows so much stuff about magazines I’ve never heard of. Super good at presenting magazines. Could not leave the shop without buying an incredible book on queer culture. 😎

Great bookshop to browse in, with multiple floors on different levels with various staircases connecting them. Fun to explore the different rooms with their own topics, and get lost among the books!

I would buy the whole shop! Such an inspirational place, full of breathtaking magazines.

The best bookstore in Amsterdam, such a wide selection and there’s books in multiple languages. Great location too and very helpful staff

Great selection of magazines 😊 wish there were more books on design though

We already knew that Spui area is a book stores area, but we didn't expect to have Athenaeum just next to The American Book Center. It was so convenient!

Athenaeum carries a huge selection of books as well, and the people here are very friendly and helpful to find me the book that I was looking for.

Definitely will be back on next trip.

What a beautiful discovery!

Great selection of books, friendly staff, nicely decorated. A place of pure joy!

Huge place with tones of books of all kinds. Employers were very helpful, and thanks to that, I found what I was searching for. Also, greetings to the cashier lady. She was the cutest!

6 Stars. I called the book shop during the covid lock down over Christmas and they delivered my magazine to me in the post. Wonderful service and will definitely order online / over the phone from them again.

Hands down, the best book store in the entire country. It feels like a maze, but in a good way. Going up or down a staircase or to one of the rooms in the back feels like an experience I never had before in a book store. Every time I come here, it is a journey in and of itself. Browsing the different floors and rooms, the staff is there to help you if you want. The only slight problem, is whenever I'm here, I always leave with more than I planned to do. Ordering online through the website and picking it up in the store itself is also quite nice, and the orders go through very fast. I ordered on Monday morning, and I picked it up in the afternoon.
Thanks to all the staff here for making every and all visits to the store definitely worth it! :)

Nice bookshop with interesting books and pleasant stuff

Lovely bookstore, friendly staff and great variety of books for kids. I needed some traditional dutch books in english and found them here,

The best book shop in the heart of Amsterdam. Excellent selection of English publications and very friendly and helpful staff.

I am so impressed by the employees of this bookstore. When my books got stuck in US customs they worked hard to unravel the bureaucratic red tape and went out of their way to make sure I received my books. As you can imagine, this took patience, so much perseverance, kindness, and intelligence. It's nice that such a wonderful bookstore has such wonderful people working there.

Lovely selection of books and magazines

friendly staff and many interesting avant-garde books

Whenever I want to buy books I'll wait until we go to Amsterdam, which is an hour's drive, so I can buy them here because I love everything about this bookshop. The staff, so friendly and they know everything, the building, great atmosphere. It has got everything a good bookshop should have.