Oudemanhuispoort. Stalletjes met tweedehands boeken. Foto: Stadsarchief Amsterdam / Oppenheim, G.L.W. (1906-1984). Datering 20 december 1951
Amsterdam’s Oudemanhuispoort, or 'The Poort,' is a place with deep historical significance. Established in 1602 for the poor and elderly, it became a covered passageway with shops in 1757. By 1879, it was known for its Jewish book merchants.
Barend Boekman, a respected figure in this tradition, marked his fiftieth anniversary at The Poort in 1939, just before World War II brought significant changes. During the war, Barend Boekman and many others faced persecution and tragically died in Auschwitz.
F.J. Dubiez later reflected in his book Barend Boekman van de Oudemanhuispoort (Menno Hertzberger, Amsterdam) that with the departure of Hendrik Daniel Pfann, the last old bookseller, in 1981, a “sympathetic and romantic past” had come to an end.
Barend Boekman, a respected Jewish book trader in the Poort, faced persecution during World War II. Tragically, he and many others perished in Auschwitz, marking a dark chapter in history.
Despite these losses, the tradition of bookselling at The Poort continues. For years, booksellers like Ed and Frans, along with Peter, who we sadly lost last spring, have upheld this legacy. As Ed describes: “There is still a certain atmosphere here. It has an old history. It has been a book location for nearly 150 years. Traditionally, this has always been one of the most important places for books in Amsterdam.”
Ed also highlights The Poort’s broader significance: “It was one of the first shopping halls in the world, starting in the 1700s. Van Gogh was here in the beginning, around 1878. The bookshops are still here today.”
Oudemanhuispoort. Stalletjes met tweedehands boeken. Foto: Stadsarchief Amsterdam / Oppenheim, G.L.W. (1906-1984). Datering 20 december 1951
Fast forward to 2024, and we, Ed and Madeleine, have transitioned our love for books online as Poortopia. Our goal is to raise awareness about The Poort’s historical book trade.
Taking an old-fashioned secondhand bookstore online is challenging, especially with thousands of unique books. Operating within a modest budget means we rely on DIY (do-it-yourself) solutions and can't justify the cost for many professional services and premium apps.
Despite these challenges, we’re committed to preserving The Poort’s legacy. While filming at The Poort recently, we overheard passersby saying, “It's very romantic, isn’t it?” and "It's good for your imagination," which we immediately saved in our notebook along with other favorite comments from visitors:
"A magical place."
“The mystery of it all!”
Thank you for supporting the book trade in The Poort. Your involvement helps us continue the tradition.
