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The Tolkien Shop started back in 1986. First via the mailing of catalogues (and am I glad no longer having to do that!) and going to bookfairs, later on via the websites www.tolkienwinkel.nl and www.tolkienshop.com. But as a son of a shopkeeper I started to miss have a shop where I could display all the nice items and make it a walhalla for Tolkien fans. With the opening of my shop in Leiden (Holland) on August 1st 2003 that dream came true..
I have so much space available that I do not use it all for the shop. Meetings of the Dutch Tolkien Society Unquendor (such as my smial The Black Dragon) are held there and about a third is used to exhibited my private collection: The Tolkien Museum. In the museum (admission free) you can see first editions, autographed books, letters by Tolkien, translations from all across the world and items relating to Tolkien's visit to Holland in 1958.
On 7 August 2004 was the official opening of the Tolkien Museum. About 200 people showed up. They heard speeches and enjoyed a concert by the Italian folkband Lingalad. Because of the very hot weather they gave the concert outside, alongside the canal (see picture). Members of the Belgian Tolkien Society Elanor gave a martial arts display, for which the trafic had to stop. Well, which motorist would not stop for three full armed nazgûl in the middle of the street....
Opening hours of the shop and museum:
- Thursday 12.00 to 21.00 hour
- Saturdays 10.00 - 18.00 hour
- by appointment via rene (at) tolkienshop .com. In the day time or in the evening, also on Sunday; you are more than welcome as long as I know in advance.
NB: payment with creditcard is not possible. Only cash, please (but I do accept US$ and UK pounds as well)
How to get there:
By car: take from motorway A4 Amsterdam - Den Haag exit Leiden-Oost. Keep following the signs Leiden-Oost volgen and when you enter the city limits you are on the Hoge Rijndijk. After about a mile you see a Shell petrol station on the left and a Kwik-Fit garage on the right. Turn right into the street on the left of the Kwik-Fit garage (DO NOT cross the bridge) and you are at the Utrechtse Jaagpad. The shop is around the corner, along the canal (well, it is the Rhine, but you get my drift: nice old buildings and beautifull boats).
From the N11 Alphen a/d Rijn - Leiden the exit is also Leiden-Oost and follow the instructions above.
Parking on the Utrechtse Jaagpad (space is limited), the Hoge Rijndijk and the area behind the petrol stration is free.
By train:
From Leiden Central Station take bus 28, 169 or 182. After about 10 minutes exit at stop Plantage. Walk about 200 metres along the street, cross the bridge and enter the street on the left, that's the Utrechtse Jaagpad. You could walk from Leiden CS, but that will take about 40 minutes, from downtown Leiden about 20 minutes.
The Tolkien Shop is coming to you!
On the following events outside Holland and Flanders The Tolkien Shop is present with a booth. If you are attending as well and are interested in some items, please let me know before because I cannot take my complete stock with me.
- 13/14 March: Tolkien Tag, Jugendzentrum am Probsthof, Bonn, Germany www.tolkien-tag-bonn.de
- 15/18 July: Tolkien Thing, Bad Hersfeld, Germany. www.tolkiengesellschaft.de
- 15/17 October: RingCon, Hotel Martitim, Bonn, Germany. www.ringcon.de
You can pay via Paypal, by cheque, money order, direct transfer to our bank account or by sending cash via recorded delivery. In principle orders are mailed out within 24 hours of receipt of payment. You pay, we mail.
During the ordering you can choose the speed of delivery. We send parcels all across the world!
If you are in the neighbourhood (for instance visiting Amsterdam) do try to come to our shop and Tolkien Museum. You will find directions and opening hours on the contact page.
This shop is a hobby that grew out of hand. We are fans ourselves and we gladly answer any Tolkien inquiry you might have.