Where to Buy English Books in Brussels, Belgium

It’s not hard to find English reading material in Brussels. In fact, most of the French and Dutch a course in miracles carry a range of English best-sellers. But where do you go if you are looking for something besides the latest Dan Brown thriller?

If you enjoy reading as much as I do, purchasing English books in Brussels can get expensive. Here are a few places to find good deals on books as well as more variety than the English corner of the major book stores.

Waterstone’s

The obvious choice for English books in Brussels is Waterstone’s. This UK chain has a fairly large store in Brussels and, along with the usual best-sellers, they have a decent selection of magazines, cookbooks, reference and children’s books. Waterstone’s isn’t cheap but they often have ‘buy 2 get one free’ deals and discounts on best-sellers.

Sterling Books

Not far from Waterstone’s, you can find Sterling Books. Sterling is a bit more expensive and doesn’t have as large a selection as Waterstone’s, but they do have some more unique choices. Their travel literature section is particularly good. As the largest English independent bookseller in Brussels, you can sleep easier knowing you aren’t lining the pockets of yet another chain store.

Stonemanor

If you have a car, or a lot of patience to ride the De Lijn bus, you can head out to Everberg and visit Stonemanor. Besides having all of the British food delicacies you may be craving, Stonemanor has a small selection of English books. While there aren’t as many books to choose from as at the actual bookstores, there are often decent discounts on older books, as they change their stock frequently. Even better is their selection of English magazines. The cooking section alone is worth the trip.

Twice a year (spring and fall), Stonemanor hosts one of the best book events in Belgium – the charity book sale. During this sale, second-hand books are donated and sold for a euro an inch! That’s right – you stack your books beside a ruler and pay by the inch. There is always a huge selection of paperbacks from the best-seller list as well as children’s books and DVDs.

Cook and Book

Cook and Book, as the name suggests, is both a book shop and a restaurant. The English section in Cook and Book is small and quite expensive but it is a comfortable place to browse. You can also find great English art and travel books if you are prepared to dive into the predominately French areas of the store. Even if you only browse, or stop for a bite to eat, Cook and Book is definitely worth a visit.