Support the most beautiful bookshop in the world!

Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht
Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht

Only a few years ago the Dominican church in Maastricht was turned into a place any booklover in the world would need to visit. Award-winning architecture and a place steeped in history -first consecrated in 1294- made it into a temple of literature voted for by many as the most beautiful bookshop in the world.

Unfortunately, selling  books via a brick-and-mortar shop has become rather difficult these days, particulary with a shop of that size (remember: church-size). The bookshop was run by selexyz which went belly-up about two years ago, only to bought by the company Polare which went -yes, you may have guessed it- belly-up at the beginning of this year. Even the BBC had something to say about this particular store to be in trouble. However, things are looking up right now as a new team has gathered to keep this place in business as a bookstore. One of their first steps is to become part of Libris, an umbrella network of independent bookstores in the Netherlands.

In fact they successfully managed a crowdfunding venture to get it up and running again. So things aren’t looking as bleak anymore. However, they definitely need support in the next weeks and months to come so why not go there and buy a book or have a cup of coffee! If you happen to know anyone in the Netherlands, if you just want to give a shoutout via their Facebook page (a website is still being worked on) – any help is appreciated.

A happy Mandalf

A happy Mandalf

This place NEEDS to stay a bookstore. Gandalf says so, too!

Marcel R. Bülles

Marcel R. Bülles is the author of thetolkienist.com, a specialist blog centering on worldwide Tolkien fandom, geekdom and research. He works as a freelance translator, journalist and writer and is the founder of the German Tolkien Society as well as a co-founder to RingCon, Europe's formerly biggest fantasy film convention. You can find him in cafés all over the world sipping an espresso blogging, writing, reading. At one point he was married to an extremely lovely French lady by the nickname of Sauron. Yes, that Sauron. He is also active with the International Tolkien Fellowship on Facebook and the Tolkien Folk on Instagram.