Boekhandel Dominicanen

If you love books or old churches or books and old churches, Boekhandel Domincanen is for you.

Which is to say, it’s for me. I love pretty much everything about Maastricht, but it is this converted medieval church bookstore that has captured my fancy most. Despite having been built in the 13th Century, this gothic monastery’s time as bookstore is fairly short. It was renovated and converted in 2006. Apart from the obvious modern touches, particularly the multi-story library stacks to your right as you enter, you’d never know it. The ancient columns remain, the large stained glass figures prominently at the rear of the building, illuminating the cafe and reading area before it. I could’ve spent the entirety of my two days here just luxuriating in the ambience and the smell of books.