What Athenaeum is known for
Independent Amsterdam bookshop at Spui 14-16, opened in 1966 by Johan Polak and Rob van Gennep; known for its classical antiquity section and, since 1969, a large newsstand of Dutch and international magazines and periodicals.
Athenaeum Boekhandel en Nieuwscentrum occupies a Dutch Baroque building at Spui 14-16 in central Amsterdam, on the square that hosts the city's weekly book market. It opened in 1966, founded by Johan Polak and Rob van Gennep, and in 1976 restructured to offer staff co-ownership, a step that anchored its identity as an independently run shop rather than a chain outlet. The store is known for Dutch and international literature, history and politics titles, and a well-regarded classical antiquity section; since 1969 it has also run a large newsstand carrying Dutch and international magazines, newspapers and zines. In 2024, Athenaeum Boekhandel BV took over the shares of the older Amsterdam bookseller Scheltema (founded 1853), and the two now operate together as the Athenaeum | Scheltema group.
How ORBIS reads this city
Best for — International magazines, literature and serious periodicals
More in Amsterdam
- Benzak Denim Developers — Amsterdam
- BYBORRE — Amsterdam
- Denham — Amsterdam
- ETQ Amsterdam — Amsterdam
- Filling Pieces — Amsterdam
- Kings of Indigo — Amsterdam
- Patta — Amsterdam
- Scotch — Amsterdam
Where next
- Mendo Bookstore — Amsterdam
- The American Book Center — Amsterdam
- Scheltema — Amsterdam
Hand-curated for ORBIS · no paid placement