Book Swap & Budget Book Fair
Book Swap &
Budget Book Fair
Celebrating the many languages spoken in Rotterdam.
Rijnhoutplein 3, 3014 TZ Rotterdam
Bring a book. Swap a book. Find a new story.
Join us for an afternoon of books, stories and language sharing at Leeszaal West. Bring a few books to swap, discover affordable reads from local book initiatives, and enjoy activities for children and adults.
Whether you speak Dutch, English, Mandarin, Papiamento or another language, there's a place for you.
An afternoon full of stories
Browse, swap, listen and discover something new.
Budget Book Fair
Discover books from Rotterdam-based bookshops and reading initiatives. Browse a selection of affordable books, with all prices under €15.
Free Book Swap
Bring 1–5 books in good condition and exchange them for new reads. Fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and children's books are all welcome.
Stories & Activities
Enjoy book readings, a Japanese bookbinding demonstration, family story time and a fun Papiamento language game.
Participating book initiatives
From children's books and literature to bookmaking and language learning, meet Rotterdam-based initiatives bringing stories from different languages and cultures.
Aiko’s Boeken Collectie
Children's books from different cultures, including Caribbean, Surinamese, Chinese and Dutch-Indonesian backgrounds. Books are available in Dutch and other languages.
The Base Bookspace
A selection of books by Black authors.
Little Book Project
Picture books and literature from Taiwan and East Asia.
Alliance Française Rotterdam
Books and activities celebrating the French language and culture.
NO18 Bookmaking & Papers
Japanese bookbinding and book repair.
Studio Steffen Maas
Educational books in Papiamento and Chinese (Mandarin).
Meet the storytellers
Every language has its own way of telling a story. Meet the lovely people who will share a book, a memory or a little moment of wonder with us. Choose a story time in a language you speak, or come along and discover something new. Everyone is welcome!
Lilian Hu
Author of Shing
Meet Lilian and her new picture book, Shing. It's a lovely story about being different and discovering that the things that make us unique are exactly what make us special.
Chantal Hawker
Counsellor & Storyteller
Chantal is a counsellor and storyteller at Studio de Bakkerij. She invites children and families to explore a theme we don't often talk about in story time: grief. Through a thoughtful story, she'll make space for a gentle and important conversation.
Rachel Wu
Little Book Project
Rachel started Little Book Project to share picture books and stories from Taiwan and East Asia. She loves bringing people together through books, and hosts book clubs and Mandarin story times in collaboration with Rotterdam Central Library.
Wing Kwan
Cantonese Language Teacher
Wing Kwan teaches Cantonese to children at weekend classes. She loves sharing the language with the next generation and keeping it alive through stories, learning and everyday moments.
Julee Resendez-Bruens
Storyteller
Originally from Seattle, USA, Julee has found a home in Rotterdam. She leads English story times at the library and brings English-speaking families together through the joy of stories.
Blanca Bolaños
Kids Welcome
Blanca brings international families together through Kids Welcome, her newsletter for families living in Rotterdam. Join her for a Spanish story and a chance to connect with other families.
Programme
Come for the books, stay for the stories.
Opening & Favourite Book Readings
Meet local book initiatives and storytellers as they share a short reading from one of their favourite books of 2026.
Languages: Dutch, English, French and Mandarin.
Book Swap & Budget Book Fair
Browse affordable books, exchange your own books and enjoy a coffee.
Meanwhile, join:
- PAC Stories Club – Discover stories and connect with fellow book lovers.
- Japanese Bookbinding Demonstration – Explore the art of Japanese bookbinding through a live demonstration.
Family Story Time
A cozy picture-book reading session for families and children, with stories in different home languages.
Languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Book Swap Continues & Language Games
Keep browsing, swapping and discovering new books. Join our Papiamento Card Game and have fun learning a few words of this beautiful Caribbean language.
Every book has a story.
Every language has a home.
Come as you are, bring a book if you'd like to swap, and leave with a new story. We look forward to celebrating Rotterdam's many languages with you.