About Us

Perdu has a unique specialised poetry bookshop in the centre of Amsterdam with a carefully curated selection of Dutch and international poetry collections, first editions, bibliophile editions, second-hand books, a substantial collection of poetic essays, and poetry-related gifts.

Perdu began in 1984 as a small bookshop in De Pijp. Chris Keulemans and his then-girlfriend Agnes van Bruggen collected "damaged world literature and marginalia." More than a shop, it was a meeting place for lovers of exceptional literature and soon started organising evenings where people held readings and passionate discussions.

In 1995, Perdu moved to its current locations at Kloveniersburgwal 86, and in addition to a shop also gained access to a beautiful theatre space. Poetry and experimentation has been Perdu's focus ever since.

There are currently about 200 titles on our online bookshop, but our selection is growing steadily. If you wish to order a title that is missing from our webshop, please contact us or drop by our shop on the Kloveniersburgwal. Pay special attention to our periodic offers! Students receive a 15% discount in our bookstore on presentation of a valid student card.