Reason 1: An exhibition
One of my favourite areas in the departure lounge at Schiphol Airport is the fabulous little airport library, which has all kinds of interesting books about the Netherlands and translated Dutch fiction in thirty languages. It’s a great spot to linger when your flight’s delayed. It’s even been featured in the New York Times. For anyone who’s interested in Dutch culture and children’s books, it’s a particularly good time to visit, as the library has an exhibition of Annie M.G. Schmidt’s Jip en Janneke books until September, translated into fourteen different languages, including the great English version by David Colmer. Probably the most beloved children’s characters in Holland, Jip and Janneke are now travelling all over the world. There’s surely no better place for an exhibition about them and their translated alter-egos than Schiphol. Here’s a video about the exhibition on Schiphol TV (in Dutch and some English).
Reason 2: A birthday
Today, to mark Cees Nooteboom’s 80th birthday, the Athenaeum bookshop in central Amsterdam has put together a beautiful birthday window display. Happy birthday, Mr Nooteboom!
This is just part of the lovely display