In the stunning Dutch city of Maastricht in the Netherlands, known for its architecture, rich history, and culture, stands a Gothic church that dates back to the 13th century. From the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a normal church: Gothic and stunning, a reminder of the city’s history that invites passersby in to experience a piece of the past that remains. However, those that do step inside won’t find the pews and solemnity one might expect from an ancient church. Instead, they’ll find they’ve stumbled upon something else entirely, but perhaps no less sacred: a bookstore.
Built in the early 13th century and consecrated in 1292 by the Order of Preachers, this Gothic church was religiously active for most of its seven centuries as a place of worship for the Catholic community of Maastricht. It was a Dominican church, meaning it was founded and run by an order of friars who followed the teachings and inspiration of St. Dominic. After over five centuries of hosting Catholic services, the church held its last religious function in 1794. Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Netherlands in September of that year as part of his efforts to exert French dominance over all of Europe. During the invasion, the church was seized by French military and used for equipment storage as well as housing for military personnel.
After Napoleon’s deconsecration of the church, it was abandoned. Over the past two centuries, its beauty and historical significance were seemingly forgotten and ignored as it served as a town archival space and, most strangely, a storage space for bikes for the citizens of modern Maastricht.
The current bookstore housed within the church is the result of a merger between bookstores in Maastricht and a larger Dutch bookstore chain, Selexyz, in the early 2000s. The restoration of the church and repurposing of the space to suit a bookstore was the vision of a team of Dutch architects. They aimed to showcase the church’s beauty while making the most of the unique space, creating a new cultural landmark within the city. To say they succeeded is an understatement.
Visitors to Selexyz Dominicanen will surely be awed by the sheer size of the bookstore. Being in a church, the ceilings rise to a dramatic height, capped by beautifully restored ceiling frescoes that date to the early 14th century. Light streams in from classic arched windows, highlighting the mix of ancient and modern that create such a unique atmosphere within the space.
Books are tucked into every nook, shelves built to follow the curves of the church’s unique structure. To make the most of the vertical space, architects designed a three-story walk-in bookshelf that soars to the heights of the church’s vaults. Not only does this bookshelf allow readers to walk up into the shelves to peruse the collection, but it also offers visitors a unique up-close view of the frescoes and an unparalleled view of the rest of the church that they likely cannot find anywhere else in the world.
Selexyz Dominicanen is home to the largest collection of English books in Maastricht. Popular books and recent releases are kept on lower levels while academic, esoteric, and theological titles are kept high in the shelves.
Selexyz Dominicanen knows that those who love to browse the shelves and get lost in a story love to do so with a cup of coffee. There’s nothing quite like taking a stroll amongst the shelves, finding the perfect book, then settling down to read in the comforting atmosphere of a café with a hot drink. Selexyz Dominicanen’s café, set where the choir used to sing within the church, is chic, but inviting and cozy. Leaning into the bookstore’s history, the bookstore also features a cross-shaped table in the center of the café’s seating area.
One in five churches in the Netherlands is no longer in religious use. Many have been repurposed to serve their communities in ways other than religious. As a reader, I can’t help but feel that Selexyz Dominicanen has stumbled into the best second life for an ancient church. While showcasing the beauty of the architecture and artwork inherent to the church and Maastricht history, they created a place of community that is relevant and important to modern society. It’s a place to gather, to connect with friends and likeminded people over books in a completely unique atmosphere and setting. It’s a beautiful blend of the past with the present, breathing new life into an ancient building to invite people within its comforting walls once more. Certainly one of the most striking and unique bookstores in the world, Selexyz Dominicanen is a must see for readers across the world.