Anybody who grew up in anglophone countries probably took for granted the joy of walking into any bookshop and not even thinking about finding books in your mother tongue. A move abroad reminds us of this privilege, and finding English publications in Belgium is less certain with selection often limited.
While chains like Standaard Boekhandel (which despite its Dutch name offers many English language books) are well known, Brussels has plenty of bookshops with unique styles and specialities where English readers can find a vast range of books.
If you're in need of some more reading material but aren't sure where to go, this is for you.
Peinture Fraîche
Seen from the street, two shops have the name Peinture Fraîche – one with a small selection of English books and another with a wide range of art books, many in English.
Rue Lesbroussart 9 & 39, 1050 Ixelles
Peinture Fraîche. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Tulibris
Step into what feels like a book collector's living room and lose track of time as you browse the stacked shelves of second-hand books in Tulibris. The shop takes its name from the street – Rue de la Tulipe – and libris.
Rue de la Tulipe 25, 1050 Ixelles
Tulibris. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Librebook
Librebook is a cultural café which offers a wide selection of European books in different languages. Readers can enjoy their work of choice with a cup of tea and even meet other readers and authors during events.
Chaussée de Wavre 128, 1050 Ixelles
Credit: Facebook / Librebook - Bruxelles
Pêle-Mêle
Whether you want to buy or sell, Pêle-Mêle is a great option. They stock everything from books to vinyl and CDs and even toys and games; bookshop enthusiasts are sure to enjoy an afternoon browsing the many aisles and shelves.
Multiple locations:
Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier 59, 1000 Brussels
Chaussée de Waterloo 566, 1050 Ixelles
Pêle-Mêle. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Waterstones
If you're British and looking for a familiar experience, you'll be pleased to find a Waterstones here in Brussels. The shape has a huge variety of English books in nearly every genre with two floors of packed shelves. A head-in-the-clouds book lover might easily spend a few hours browsing. It also happens to be Belgium's largest English bookshop and even stock other home comforts like Marmite or Walker's shortbread.
Boulevard Adolphe Max 71-75, 1000 Brussels
Waterstones bookshop. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
NiJiNSKi
A hidden gem, NiJiNSKi is a second-hand bookshop with around 4,000 English titles in a cosy nook of the shop, complete with a comfy chair. The shop also buys pre-loved books.
Chaussée d'Ixelles 315, 1050 Ixelles
The English corner of Librairie NiJiNSKi. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Tropismes
Primarily a French bookshop, the beautiful Tropismes in Galeries Royales also houses many quality English books. While not every book you might be searching for is on their shelves, their selection and the décor is not to be missed.
Galerie des Princes 11, 1000 Bruxelles
Tropismes. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Filigranes
For a one-stop shop for everything you need for a fun weekend-in, Filigranes is the place to go. Enjoy hours strolling through the huge shop and stock up on books, comic strips, gadgets and games. If you find yourself needing a bite to eat, pause for a cup of coffee and treat at the café inside the shop.
Avenue des Arts, 39-42, 1040 Brussels
Filigranes. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Passa Porta
Passa Porta is a unique, multilingual bookshop in the heart of Brussels. As well as the huge range of both new and second-hand books, the shop also arranges numerous events; most notably their biannual Passa Porta Festival which features hundreds of writers and artists around the world.
Rue Antoine Dansaert 46, 1000 Brussels
Passa Porta bookshop. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Cook & Book
A meal, a glass of wine and a thousand books – what more could you ask for? Cook & Book is not only a cosy place to grab a bite to eat, but also stocks an array of books, comics and more can be found in the bookshop. A tip from The Brussels Times: look up when you sit down in the restaurant.
Multiple locations:
Place du Temps Libre 1, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
Chaussée de Waterloo 1357, 1180 Bruxelles
