In the beginning was the bestseller architecture the guardian. Founder of urban ghosts, an online magazine about hidden history and offbeat travel. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together over a good book and a. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore eng ita eng th century gothic architecture becomes a bookstore through continuos dialogue between history and modernity. In the very heart of the historic city, in a place where history meets modernity, theres one place that truly encapsulates it all. Pictures from the selexyz dominicanen book store maastricht is a nice old town in the south of the netherlands, pretty close to where i grew up. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together over a good book and a good cup of coffee. The boekhandel dominicanen otherwise known as the bookstore dominicanen in english is a dream destination for those who love both history and reading, preferably together. The project team has conducted considerable restoration on the ceiling paintings.
This could be due to the fact the bookstore is owned by selexyz, a chain of bookstores across the country. Boekhandel dominicanen history of bookshop dominicanen. This is a beautiful bookshop for dutch and english speakers, i think there were a few other languages there also. Selexyz dominicanen the selexyz dominicanen bookstore is. The selexyz bookstore is located in a church in the town of maastricht in the netherlands. Boekhandel dominicanen history of bookshop dominicanen libris. The building, originally constructed by the dominican order in late th century. After the bankcruptcy in 2014 the bookshop restarted as bookshop dominicanen. Selexyz is an important dutch commercial distribution centre for books.
In the last 200 years, the building had been used for many purposes before it turned into a bookstore. The contemporay building is now an impressive bookshop in maastricht, netherlands. There are numerous spectacular bookstores throughout the world, and labeling one the finest on earth is subjective at best. Thirteenth century gothic architecture becomes a bookstore through continuos dialogue between history and modernity. Bookstore inside the church of maastricht, netherlands selexyz dominicanen a store created from a merger between the towns bergmans bookshop, the academische boekhandel, and the dutch selexyz bookshop chain is housed in the thrilling setting of a thcentury dominican church. Selexyz dominican church in maastricht inhabitat green. This bookstore is a part of the selexys chain and it holds the biggest stock of books in english in maastrich stored in a very unusual place in an old dominican. Think imposing exterior, high vaulted ceilings, and wide window openings to match. Selexyz dominicanen abstract pictures from the book store. It is very close to the bookstore, because if you park on the street and are a minute late getting back, it is a 100 euro fine. Boekhandel dominicanen maastricht 2020 all you need to. Bookstore dominicanen maastricht 2020 all you need to. This centuriesold gothic monster has been converted into a sprawling, glossy bookstore.
Still, selexyz dominicanen represents the first project in the netherlands to turn a church into a bookstore. Two hundred years ago, the church lost its sacred function and has since served for many years as a reptile house, bicycle shed, and carnival. And, in fact, this conversion has been beneficial to the cultural heritage of the site. Twelve of the worlds most beautiful bookshops in pictures. Selexyz dominicanen bookshop in maastricht we visited an old church that was converted into a modern bookstore you might be religious or not, but this old church in maastricht will bring all the enlightenment you might be seeking since it was converted into a bookshop a couple of years ago. Bookstore selexyz dominicanen maastricht, book shop e. But the people of maastricht stopped using this church for religious functions ever since 1804. After the bankcruptcy in 2014 the bookshop restarted as bookshop dominicanen and is now an independant bookshop. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore th century gothic architecture becomes a bookstore through continuous dialogue between history and modernity. After walking around the bookshop, make sure to stop and sit for a coffee and admire the architecture of the old church.
Originally built over 700 years ago, the ancient church that now houses the selexyz dominicanen bookstore has been attracting visitors with its gothic beauty for centuries, but with its godly duties at an end, it now draws people in as a massive bookstore. The selexyz dominicanen bookstore is inside a former church. One of its churches, the thcentury dominicanenkerk dominican church was converted to a bookstore around 2006. Boekhandel dominicanen stunning bookstore in former. But boekhandel selexyz dominicanen, a 700yearold former. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore is housed in an 720yearold former church, and it has kept much of the original architecture. The assortment of the bookstore was not what i expected as well. During a prior visit to the selexyz dominicanen book store in maastricht i had photographed the overall structure of the church, the book aisles and visitors. If you plan on visiting the bookstore, and if you are driving, use the underground parking lot. Selexyz dominicanen a store created from a merger between the towns bergmans bookshop, the academische boekhandel, and the dutch selexyz bookshop chain is housed in the thrilling setting of.
Boekhandel dominicanen maastricht 2020 what to know. The boekhandel dominicanen the bookstore dominicanen in english is a dream destination for those who love both history and reading. There were a lot of genres, but i could not fail to notice that there was not a wide variety of titles. Ancient dominican church renovated into modern bookstore. Untill 20 the bookshop was part of the bookshop chains selexyz and polare. The company decided to move into the church space after it was renovated in 2005.
Since the autumn of 2006, you can find the unique dominicanen bookshop previously selexyz dominicanen and polare maastricht in the centuriesold dominicanenkerk dominican church in maastricht. Bookshop dominicanen in maastricht, the netherlands. Selexyz dominicanen maastricht, netherlands atlas obscura. In maastricht, the boekhandel selexyz dominicanen was once a gorgeous historical dominican church and is now home to thousands of books. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore in maastricht, the netherlands. Selexyz dominicanen is housed in a more than 700 year old former dominican church in maastricht, netherlands. Netherlands, maastricht, selexyz dominicanen bookstore. Best bookstore in the world selexyz dominicanen gets our.
Selexyz dominicanen bookshop in maastricht fotostrasse. Bookstore selexyz dominicanen merkxgirold archello. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore mnn mother nature network. But boekhandel selexyz dominicanen, a 700yearold former catholic church in the netherlands city of maastricht, is certainly one of the grandest. Selexyz dominicanen gets our vote photos a chain of dutch bookstore selexyz might just be the prettiest bookstore weve ever seen. Discover selexyz dominicanen in maastricht, netherlands. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together over a good book and a good cup of coffee in the classical world, mercury, the god of merchants, was also considered the messenger of the gods and the protector of swindlers. One of the things we had to do was to clean them up, says remmers. Book your tickets online for boekhandel dominicanen, maastricht. A tour of one of the worlds most beautiful bookstore.
In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together over a good book and a good cup of coffee in the classical world, mercury, the god of merchants, was also. Housed in a seven hundredyearold former dominican church, its a stunning house of worship now devoted to the cult of physical books. In the beginning was the bestseller architecture the. Dominican church in maastricht turned into fascinating bookstore. Selexyz dominicanen bookstore inside the dominicanenkerk dominican church, maastricht, limburg, the netherlands, europe boekhandel dominicanen or bookstore dominicans is a bookstore or bookshop inside a th century church in maastricht, the netherlands.
Between 2006 and 20, the shop was part of the chain selexyz and polare. A th century dominican church converted into an impressive contemporary bookstore. Boekhandel dominicanen an authentic church which changed. Contemporary selexyz dominicanen bookshop, netherlands. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative. Selexyz was, until 2012, one of the larger chains of bookstores in the netherlands, running 16 branches in dutch cities, including historic bookstores such as donner in rotterdam, one of europes largest bookstores. The building has led other lives as a parish, warehouse, archive, and bicycle storage before its latest iteration as a sleek, threestory modern bookstore. Bookstore selexyz dominicanen merkxgirold as architects. There are numerous spectacular bookstores throughout the world, and. More recently i had a fast 85 mm lens with me, which allowed me to take a different approach and take some more abstract pictures. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together. A bookshop was established inside the church untill 20 the bookshop was part of the bookshop chains selexyz and polare. The space maintains the churchs architectural structure and definitive design attributes while inviting the contemporary stylings of a modern bookstore.
The old church lives on, thanks to merkx and girod architects, who gave the classic building a chance to be enjoyed for many more years. The dominicanen church formerly known as selexyz dominican cathedral was established in the year 1216. Selexyz dominicanen pictures from this beautiful book store. The pieces of art that are sold in the building are a different story. A history of the boekhandel dominicanen first constructed for use as a dominican church in the thcentury and consecrated in 1294, the building where the bookstore can now be found is constructed in the gothic style.