Other Gift Certificates
We accept the Nederlandse Boekenbon and the VVV Cadeaubon/Cadeaukaart in our stores and we sell the Nederlandse Boekenbon too.
Can I use them for online orders?
Unfortunately not, they are only redeemable in our stores.
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There are no openings at the moment.
However, if you are interested in future openings and fulfill the requirements below, then send us an email.
Requirements:
Please include:
Send your application to your preferred store:
NB - we will keep your letter on file for 3-6 months for any job openings within that period.
Spui 12
1012 XA Amsterdam
Lange Poten 23
2511 CM The Hague
Westfield Mall of the Netherlands
Kornoelje 15
2262 AX Leidschendam
info@abc.nl - General store enquiries.
info@abc.nl - Collection in Amsterdam
dh@abc.nl - Collection in The Hague
info@abc.nl - Postal Orders
events@abc.nl - General event enquiries.
mags@abc.nl - Amsterdam
dhmagazines@abc.nl - The Hague
marketing@abc.nl
press@abc.nl - Also see our press resources.
sponsor@abc.nl - Please read the Sponsorship Policy before contacting us.
All floors are accessible via the lift.
Walk: about 15 minutes from Central Station to the store.
Tram: 2 & 12 to Koningsplein
Tram: 4 & 14 to Rokin
Metro: line 52 to Rokin
Only the ground floor is accessible.
Walk: about 10 minutes from Central Station to the store.
Spui 12
1012 XA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
All floors are accessible via the lift on the ground floor.
Walk: about 15 minutes from Central Station to the store.
Tram 2 & 12 to Koningsplein
Tram 4 & 14 to Rokin
Metro line 52 to Rokin
Lange Poten 23
2511 CM The Hague
The Netherlands
Only the ground floor is accessible.
Walk: about 10 minutes from Central Station to the store.
Westfield Mall of the Netherlands
Kornoelje 15
2262 AX Leidschendam
The Netherlands
Access via the mall. (mall access info)
Tram 2, 6 & 19 to Mall of the Netherlands
You can subscribe to our newsletters on most pages of the site.
ABC Favorites are (modern) classics that we highly recommend! We aim to always have them in stock and offer these titles to you at special low prices.
You can find the ABC Favorites throughout our stores and they are available for order on our ABC Favorites List.
Print on demand (POD), sometimes called publish on demand, is a printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book (or other document) are not printed until an order has been received. "Print on Demand" developed only after digital printing began, because it was not economical to print single copies using traditional printing technology such as letterpress and offset printing.Wikipedia
In short, POD titles are not kept in stock by publishers and instead are printed and bound whenever they receive an order.
Our Espresso Book Machine, Betty, is our in-house POD book maker, but it isn't able to produce all POD titles.
Many titles that are ordered via our suppliers are POD.
The ABC Gift Certificates are redeemable on all stock and in-store services. That includes magazines, books, stationery and merchandise.
They have no expiration date but must be dated and signed by staff to be valid.
No, they are printed (paper) vouchers.
No, they are only redeemable in our stores.
Depending on the total order amount, we use a combination of the following denominations:
€ 5, € 10, € 15, € 20, and € 25.
Our Special Order staff will fulfill your order and contact you as soon as possible.
Please note: this is not automated, so it may take a little while to process.
Many of our customers get 10% off in store and online. If you'd also like to benefit, there are a few options below for getting that discount and special deals.
Booklover Card, Gold Card, and Teacher Discount
Valid in store and online (if registered):
Schools & Libraries and Large Quantity Orders
The discount is processed by our Special Order department - who will assist you in making large orders.
Complimentary Discount
This is only applicable in our stores.
55+ Mondays, CJP/BCA Docentenpas, Cultureel Jongeren Paspoort, European Youth Card, Ooievaarspas, Stadspas, Students (high-school and higher education), and the Westfield Club card. (detailed descriptions)
The Booklover Card costs € 8.
It is valid for one year from the day of purchase and the 10% discount is immediately applicable.
You can buy a card in-store and online.
In-Store, ask for a card when you purchase your books.
Online, you can add it to your cart during the checkout process.
Inspired by the theme of 2008's Dutch National Book Week which was (roughly translated) "Of Old People: The Third Age and Literature", the Gold Card is for our 65+ customers.
It is free and can be obtained by registering at any store.
All we need is proof of age.
It is valid for 3 years, but is renewable indefinitely.
The 10% discount is applicable in store and online.
Thanksgiving Voucher 2024
In order to confirm Gold Card member accounts and addresses, we have not sent vouchers by mail this year.
Gold Card members are invited to collect their Thanksgiving Voucher at any store from November 28th to December 31st.
All unconfirmed Gold Card memberships will end on December 31st, 2024.
To receive the voucher we need the correct postal address for next year's delivery, and then we'll update the expiry date.
The Thanksgiving Voucher is valid from November 28 to December 31st, 2024.
This discount is complimentary and only applicable in our stores.
Customers aged 55+ receive 10% off on mondays. All you need to do is show us proof of your age. We'll accept any official ID card with your date of birth.
To avoid any confusion: If you also have a valid ABC Card you will not be entitled to a 20% discount on Mondays.
The CJP/BCA Docentenpas has been available to teachers since 2012. (www.cjp.nl)
"CJP (Cultureel Jongeren Paspoort) offers everyone under 30 great discounts at more than 1.500 places in the Netherlands. Get your discount on cd's, at museums, movie theatres, musicals..." and also at The American Book Center. (www.cjp.nl)
"The European Youth Card is packed with discounts on culture, accommodation, travel, shopping and more. Discover Europe, get useful info and participate in projects. The European Youth Card - it takes you places!" - the CJP is part of this association. (www.eyca.org)
Ooievaarspas is an initiative of the city council of The Hague. It gives the holder discounts on various courses, sport and cultural activities. (ooievaarspas.nl)
Stadspas is an initiative of the city council of Amsterdam. It aims to make culture, sport and recreational events accessible to those groups who run the risk of social and cultural isolation. (www.amsterdam.nl/stadspas)
We give discount to high-school and higher education students who can show a valid school id, enrollment papers or have access to an education facility app. Show us your Student ID card (not your 'OV' card) and you'll get the discount.
Join the Westfield Club on offer at the Westfield Mall of the Netherlands.
Ordering large quantities (10+ copies of a single title or more than 20+ copies of multiple titles), entitles you to a discount. This also applies to books printed in store on our Espresso Book Machine.
Large Quantity orders can only be made via email to our Special Order department. info@abc.nl
You can create an account with a password during the checkout process.
If you choose not to add a password, your account is still available for in store special orders.
To activate an in-store account for web orders, enter the email address used for registration of your Booklover Card or special order.
Follow the steps for a "Forgot Password" as described below.
Request a password reset link via the login form.
Download detailed instructions here
Please note: you can change your email address via your profile after logging in.
Once logged in, you can change and view your contact information via "MY PROFILE" under MY ABC
Changing your email address here will also change the login address for your account. The password will remain the same.
The address in your profile is your personal shipping address.
If you'd like to send your purchases to a different address, you can add that during the checkout process.
If applicable, it includes your ABC Discount status and ABC Teacher Discount application info.
You are able to view your orders via "MY ORDERS" under MY ABC
You will see web orders and special orders in separate sections. This includes the items ordered and the status.
Special orders are made when a web order is not in stock, or when orders are made via telephone, email or in-store.
Please send an email to info@abc.nl with the request to close your account.
The account linked to the email you've sent it from, will be removed.
You can create an account with a password during the checkout process.
If you choose not to add a password, your account is still available for in store special orders.
To activate an in-store account for web orders, enter the email address used for registration of your Booklover Card or special order.
Request a password reset link via the login form.
Download detailed instructions here
Please note: you can change your email address via your profile after logging in.
Once logged in, you can change and view your contact information via "MY PROFILE" under MY ABC
Changing your email address here will also change the login address for your account. The password will remain the same.
The address in your profile is your personal shipping address.
If you'd like to send your purchases to a different address, you can add that during the checkout process.
If applicable, it includes your ABC Discount status and ABC Teacher Discount application info.
You are able to view your orders via "MY ORDERS" under MY ABC
You will see web orders and special orders in separate sections. This includes the items ordered and the status.
Special orders are made when a web order is not in stock, or when orders are made via telephone, email or in-store.
Please send an email to info@abc.nl with the request to close your account.
The account linked to the email you've sent it from, will be removed.
We have created this statement to demonstrate our commitment to your privacy, to explain how we collect information, and how we use the information we collect about our website users. If you have any questions about this privacy statement, please contact us at info@abc.nl.
We use your information only as described in this Policy and will not sell, rent, or share your information with others for marketing purposes without your consent.
This statement is subject to change at any time. The way we use your information will be governed by the privacy statement that is current when that information is collected. Please check this page regularly for updates.
What Are Cookies? Our website abc.nl places small text files called cookies onto your computer, tablet, or mobile device. This is standard practice for almost all websites. Cookies are not harmful to your computer and are an essential part of online shopping. They allow us to provide you with a more efficient customer experience.
We use our own cookies for technical purposes essential to the effective operation of abc.nl, particularly in relation to online transactions. As we use a payment service provider (pay.nl), all data traffic concerning payments will be securely processed outside abc.nl on the website of the bank of your choice.
In addition to our own cookies, ABC allows a third-party cookie set by Google to use Google Analytics. This cookie does not collect personal data, is anonymized, and thus cannot identify you as an individual customer. Using Google Analytics enables abc.nl to collect anonymous information about the browsing and shopping activities of our customers solely for internal analysis.
To enrich our website content, we may sometimes embed video content from social media websites such as YouTube or Facebook. As a result, when you visit a page with embedded content, you may receive cookies from these websites. We have no control over or liability for the setting of these cookies, so you should check the relevant third party's cookie policy for more information.
We also offer a "share page" widget on some of our web pages, allowing content to be easily shared on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. These sites may set a cookie when you are logged into their service. The American Book Center has no control or liability over these cookies, so you should check the relevant third party's cookie policy for more information.
If cookies aren't enabled in your web browser, your shopping experience on abc.nl will be limited to browsing and researching; you won't be able to add products to your basket and buy them. For more information about cookies in general and how to manage them, visit allaboutcookies.org.
When you place an order on abc.nl or in one of our stores, the information needed to complete it is transferred securely from our website or intranet to our order system. This information may include your first name, last name, email address, telephone number, address, postcode, and city, allowing us to fulfill your order and notify you of its status. During the ordering process, none of this information will be passed on to any third-party service providers (wholesalers, shippers, payment service providers, etc.). For our mail orders, we use post.nl as the shipper. For mailing registered parcels via post.nl, it is necessary to register the name and address of the receiver in post.nl's web-based software.
The American Book Center has always sent its mailings to email addresses provided to us on an opt-in basis and will continue to do so. If you wish to stop receiving some or all of our communications, you can amend or remove your preferences by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails and following the instructions provided.
If you wish to have your personal information removed from our database, please contact us at info@abc.nl. Upon request, The American Book Center will anonymize or remove any content you have posted to our website from public view.
The American Book Center's website is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect or store any personal information from children under the age of 13. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time with their children online and to be fully familiar with the online services used by their children. If a parent or guardian becomes aware that their child under 13 has provided us with information without their consent, they should contact us at info@abc.nl. We will delete such information from our files as soon as possible.
last updated: May 15, 2018
Our website includes all the books available to us from our distributors, but unfortunately we don't have the space to stock everything.
Our buyers keep up with trends, long-term favorites and important basic titles to stock their sections.
For a real time stock check, please call us:
The availability of a book - title or edition - changes with time. If it is no longer in print you may not find it on our website. Some books disappear from one month to the next. However, our staff may be able to track these books down.
If you cannot find the book on our site, email us at info@abc.nl.
Supply as much information about the book as you can, especially title and author, and if you have an ISBN that is helpful too.
The quality of these books ranges from "brand new" to "scuffed" and they are priced accordingly by our supplier.
For these books you may have to pay a deposit as they are often difficult to return or too specific to sell in the store.
Regular Orders
Large Quantity or School Orders
Once you're ready to make your order, click on CART
Payment is required for all orders containing eBooks.
Payment provider pay.nl
All our transactions are processed through this payment provider. This service is kept up to international safety standards and ensures that your financial details are handled securely.
Credit Card (AMEX, Visa, Master Card) are handled via PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account.
Bank transfer made through your bank login via iDEAL.
Please Note: we cannot accept gift certificates for online payments. They are only redeemable in our stores.
Your 10% ABC Booklover, ABC Gold Card or ABC Teacher Discount will be automatically processed if linked to your web account.
If your ABC Booklover Card card has expired, you will be able to renew it during the checkout process.
The ABC Teacher Discount is only available after your application has been approved.
We offer free shipping to addresses within the Netherlands for all orders above € 25.
We charge standard rates within The Netherlands.
We charge estimated shipping costs during the checkout process and amend these later so that you only pay the actual shipping costs. Our Special Order staff will let you know what the actual costs are once they are known.
view the complete country list
For the exact shipping costs, please inquire via: 020 625 5537 or info@abc.nl
When tomorrow just won't do, we can generally get the book to you by the end of the afternoon.
Give us a call to check if the title you want is in stock and we will let you know what your options for same day delivery are and what the costs would be depending on speed, location and volume.
Payment happens fast and easy by iDeal, PayPal (credit card), through a link we send to your e-mail address.
If you live in or near the center of Amsterdam or Den Haag, we can send an environmentally friendly bike courier your way.
If you live further away, we can arrange a less-green-but-still-fast-courier-by-car.
For the exact courier costs, please inquire via:
020 625 5537
info@abc.nl
Shipping Countries
Once an order is ready for collection you will receive an email or phone call. The orders are kept in the store of your choice (made during the order) for 3 weeks. During the summer, the period is lengthened to 4 weeks.
If you are unable to collect it within the time limit, please let us know.
You contact the relevant store via phone or email. (Email: via reply to the "collection notification" email or via a new email with the order details.)
You can collect your books from the counter on the second floor, in the White Room.
You can collect your magazines from the Ground Floor.
You can collect your books and magazines from the counter at the back of the store.
You can collect your books and magazines from the counter.
Whether inquiring at a desk, via phone, email or ordering online, staff at the appropriate department will check for availability in the store.
If the book is in stock, you will receive it as soon as possible, or be notified that it is waiting for you at the Special Order Desk at the store of your choice.
If it is not in stock we will order it from one of our suppliers.
The arrival time (in the store) depends on availability and generally ranges from 7 to 10 days. If available at a local supplier, delivery is much faster.
If the book you are looking for is (or becomes) unavailable - out of print, in reprint or sold out - you will be contacted. We also have a "second-hand" or "hard-to-find" book service.
You can do so by contacting the Special Order department.
Please refer to the order number on your confirmation email, or give as many details as possible of the book(s) in your order.
Books, if in perfect condition and with the receipt, may be returned within 8 days of purchase in exchange for a credit note. We do not give cash refunds.
Magazines, special orders, used books, calendars and cards are non-returnable. Games, audiocassettes and dvd's are also non-returnable if not in their original seal.
eBooks are non-returnable. Unless there is a problem with the file itself and this has been verified by us with our distributor.
If you received the book by mail, please contact the Special Order department for instructions. Please note that, without their approval, returns will not be accepted.
This is a service for local self‑published authors who would like to sell their books via ABC.
If sales are very good, ABC may buy copies instead selling on consignment.
If your have books on your shelves that you don't want anymore, we've got a solution! Come to our Trade-In Day.
The trade-in days are also announced in our mailings.
**Please note that customers need to sign up for the ABC Trade In. Please contact the store in The Hague to book your timeslot.**
The Deal:
We accept English books in all genres of fiction, including science fiction & fantasy, romance, crime and chick-lit and we also accept your old graphic novels. Please note that we do not accept non-fiction and children's books!
We prefer mass-market paperbacks (pocket books) but will also accept large paperbacks and hardcovers.
Depending on the possibility for resale, it is up to us to decide how much we will give you for your books. We retain the right to refuse books that we cannot sell. You can hold on to the remaining books, or you can leave them with us. A selection of the donated books will go to Better World Books. Also, any unsold second hand books are shipped to this organization.
The number of customers wanting to sell us their second hand books seems to be increasing and because we sell less books than we are offered, please be aware that we do not offer you a high price per book. Generally, we offer an average of about 50 cents per book.
You will receive ABC Gift Certificates for your books, with which you can pay in all our stores. They are valid indefinitely. Please note that we do not pay in cash.
Whether you have a list of titles or prefer to select them directly from our shelves, the Special Order Department will help you to fulfill your order.
These orders automatically get a 10% discount.
Send your order or inquiry to info@abc.nl
The American Book Center offers the following services to hotels, cafes and any other business planning to decorate its spaces with books:
Interested? Please contact us via marketing@abc.nl and let us know how we can support your design plans.
The American Book Center (ABC) is committed to partnering with organizations or individuals that stimulate reading, writing and the arts. However, before you send us your request, we ask that you read our Sponsorship Policy
Them, please contact us via sponsor@abc.nl with your complete proposal.
We accept the Nederlandse Boekenbon and the VVV Cadeaubon/Cadeaukaart in our stores and we sell the Nederlandse Boekenbon too.
Unfortunately not, they are only redeemable in our stores.