Boekie Woekie

Boekie Woekie is an artist-run bookstore in Amsterdam dedicated to books by artists. Founded in 1986 by six artists, it began as a small shop for their own publications. After five years, with three founders having left, it moved to a larger space and expanded its concept to include publications by others. Today it carries about 7,000 titles, almost exclusively self-published or small-press books. The shop is run by Henriëtte van Egten (Dutch), Rúna Thorkelsdóttir (Icelandic), and Jan Voss (German), who continue their personal artistic careers and view the shop itself as a sculpture in progress. In 2024, Boekie Woekie moved to its current address at Geldersekade 39, 1011 EJ Amsterdam. It is entirely self-financing and is considered Europe's, if not the world's, longest-existing venue for artists' books, carrying books regardless of their author's fame. The online store offers a catalogue of artists' books, as well as branded merchandise such as a tote bag and T-shirt.

Boekie Woekie, books by artists, began paying rent for a tiny space in downtown Amsterdam on January 1st, 1986. It was then seen by its 6 founders as a shop for their own publications. After the first 5 years and some reshuffling of the group and with 3 of the founders left, Boekie Woekie began its second phase in a quite much bigger shop space around the corner and with a renewed concept resulting from the gained experience: the new shop opened for publications by others. There are now about 7000 titles - almost exclusively self-published or small press books. Those who run it - Henriëtte van Egten (Dutch), Rúna Thorkelsdóttir (Icelandic) and Jan Voss (German) have continued their personal artists’ careers and since years count the shop itself as a sculpture in progress they work on concertedly. In 2024 Boekie Woekie moved to its present address. The entirely self-financing enterprise is Europe’s, if not the world’s, venue for artists’ books the longest in existence which carries books regardless to their author's fame.

• Boekie Woekie begins paying rent for a tiny space in downtown Amsterdam, founded by six artists as a shop for their own publications.

• After five years and with three founders having left, Boekie Woekie moves to a larger space around the corner and opens to publications by others.

• Boekie Woekie moves to its present address at Geldersekade 39, Amsterdam.

Artist-run bookstore for books by artists, self-financing, carrying books regardless of author's fame.

• Boekie Woekie Tote Bag

  A lightweight tote bag (38 x 42 cm) made from 65% recycled cotton, with the BW logo image screen-printed on one side, unbleached.

• Two Lips From Amsterdam T-Shirt

  A T-shirt priced at €25.00.

• Postcard series - Rabbits & Flowers 1 & 2

  Postcard series priced at €15.00 each.

• Postcard series - Cats & Flowers 1 & 2

  Postcard series priced at €15.00 each.

• Hommage To Boekie Woekie

  A book by Philippe McIntyre documenting the old Boekie Woekie store in Berenstraat 16, with photographs and texts. Glossy soft cover, 23.5 x 17 cm, 56 pages, Amsterdam 2024, ISBN: 9789072404275.

1. 1Boekie Woekie - Books By Artists – Boekie Woekie, books by artistsboekiewoekie.com
2. 2About Boekie Woekie – Boekie Woekie, books by artistsboekiewoekie.com
3. 3Boekie Woekie Tote Bag – Boekie Woekie, books by artistsboekiewoekie.com
4. 4Hommage To Boekie Woekie – Boekie Woekie, books by artistsboekiewoekie.com
5. 5Wikidatawikidata.org