Children's Book Week Groningen

From Wednesday, October 2, to Sunday, October 13, it’s Children's Book Week in the Netherlands. There are various events organized in Groningen, and you can expect fun activities around Children's Book Week.

Theme of Children's Book Week 2024

The theme for this Children's Book Week is "Delightfully Stubborn!" Children's books are full of strong characters that show how fun it is to do what you want. During the Children's Book Ball on September 27, the Golden Brush and Golden Pencil will be awarded to the best-written and best-illustrated children's books.

Children's Books in Groningen

There are many great places in Groningen where you can buy children's books. De Kleine Kapitein, Riemer, and van der Velde are the most well-known.

Secondhand Children's Books in Groningen

If you're on a budget, consider joining the library or shopping secondhand. You can do this at Van der Velde, and there’s also Books4Life in the Paddepoel shopping center, which supports a good cause: Books4Life. In the Lewenborg neighborhood, Jan Dirk Maatjes and his faithful dog Bobby run a lovely secondhand bookstore called Boekenthuis: Boekenthuis.

Children's Book Week at Riemer

Riemer participates annually in Children's Book Week by offering discounts to participating elementary schools for their school libraries. For each book purchased, the school receives a discount! Keep your receipt and hand it in to your teacher.

Children's Book Week at Van der Velde Bookstore Groningen

Pippi Longstocking Party during Children's Book Week at Van der Velde A-kerkhof
On Sunday, October 6, you can attend the Pippi Longstocking party to celebrate Children's Book Week. Starting at 1 PM, you can visit the A-kerkhof location at Van der Velde for pancakes, floor skating, making Pippi socks, taking photos with Pippi and her horse, and enjoying a read-aloud marathon. Sounds fun, right?!

Pieter Koolwijk bezoekt de Kinderboekenweek in Groningen

Pieter Koolwijk will sign his books during Children's Book Week at Van der Velde Bookstore on Grote Markt. On Sunday, October 13, you can have your books signed starting at 12:00 PM. Pieter Koolwijk won the Golden Pencil in 2021 with his children's book "Gozert" and is also known for "Luna," "Mission Breakdown," and "Treasure Hunters." He collaborates with Lemniscaat and illustrator Linde Faas.

The Groningen Children's Bookstore De Kleine Kapitein

The Groningen children's bookstore De Kleine Kapitein holds a special place as one of the first children's bookstores in the Netherlands, and it has been around for forty years. There isn't a specific Children's Book Week promotion, although there are children's book packages available here. This store is always worth a visit! You can find it at Stoeldraaierstraat 42 in Groningen: Location. Besides children's books, you can also find fun toys, puzzles, and games.

Children's Book Week at Forum Libraries around Groningen

During Children's Book Week, from October 2 to 13, there are many activities in the Groningen libraries. This includes fun workshops, theater performances, and a QR code treasure hunt. You can find the complete program of the Forum Libraries here. In Groningen, alongside performances by Guido van Hout and Theater Pannenkoek, there are also various workshops where children can learn to program robots and participate in other crafting activities. Throughout this week, libraries also emphasize how fun and educational reading can be. Children up to 18 can become library members for free. All activities in the Groningen libraries can be found at biblionetgroningen.nl.

Children's Book Week at Forum Groningen

On Saturday, October 5, at 2:00 PM, you can join a children's workshop for kids aged 7 to 11, where you'll decorate your own "kabaalbende" cape. With a Stadjerspas, you receive a nice discount! On Sunday, October 6, at 1:30 PM, you can watch the film "My Very Weird Week with Tess (6+)": Event Details.

Kids Subscription Forum Groningen and Forum Libraries

If you catch the reading bug after Children's Book Week and are under 18, did you know you can become a member for free with a kids subscription to the Forum Libraries? For more information, check here. If you find reading a bit clumsy and prefer listening, take a look at the Youth Library with Audiobooks by topic: Youth Library Audiobooks.

Children's Book Ball 2024 on September 27 at Cascade

The best books of 2024 will be awarded at the Children's Book Ball. This year, it takes place at Cascade (Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht) and there is a full program for which you can register: Event Details. The Grifffels and Penselen are the most important awards for the best children's books of 2024. The Children's Book Ball will take place on September 27, 2024, where the Golden Pencil and Golden Brush will also be awarded.

Overall, it promises to be a fun Children's Book Week again, and we hope you will experience it locally in Groningen and visit the fun places we recommend. It's, of course, the best to dive back into reading together with your family!