Book lovers are in luck, as popular bookshop Passa Porta is opening an English-language store in Brussels this spring, with a wide selection of literature and non-fiction reads on offer.
The Passa Porta International House of Literature was founded by Het beschrijf and Entrez Lire in 2004. It is a multilingual organisation and a unique meeting place for literature lovers, authors, readers, translators and cultural mediators alike.
Through popular literary events, an international programme for writers in residence, and the much-loved biennial Passa Porta Festival – one of the most prestigious literary festivals in Europe – it has attracted thousands of bookworms to its store over the years.
Now, due to increasing demand, the Passa Porta bookshop has decided to open an English store just next door, at the former French leather goods store Paul Marius, which closed its doors a few weeks ago.
The bookshop's business venture has been made predominantly for practical reasons. Although the bookshop has always offered books in Dutch, French, German and English, the initiative aims to significantly expand the English-language collection to meet the growing demand.
"We have far too little space for the range of English-language books we want to offer," shop manager Ludovic Bekaert told The Brussels Times.
"We are also fortunate that the store next to Passa Porta will become available, meaning that both stores can exist side by side."
Passa Porta bookshop. Credit: The Brussels Times / Danica Van der Merwe
Beloved British bookshop chain Waterstones is already well-established in the city, having been a central hub for bibliophiles since 1997.
However, Bekaert noted that Passa Porta's English version will "offer a selection of excellent literature that isn't always available everywhere." He added that the booksellers will also help customers choose their own personal favourites.
The ongoing renovation works on the new shop. Credit: Ludovic Bekaert
The manager promises prospective customers a wide range of literature and non-fiction. "We hope to surprise our readers with a wide and deep range of good books."
There is no specific opening date for the store yet, but Bekaert confirmed to The Brussels Times that his team is aiming for early April.
