A language learners’ forum

PeterMollenburg wrote:Good suggestion, but restricted to sending to NL and BE only. They definitely don't want the Dutch language to spread!

That's a pity! Dutch is high on my language wish list, I hope to tackle it at the end of 2021.
Even though it has a strong base of native speakers, Dutch is for sure the Cinderella of European languages, superseded by less spoken ones (Swedish, for example!).

vegantraveller wrote:

PeterMollenburg wrote:Good suggestion, but restricted to sending to NL and BE only. They definitely don't want the Dutch language to spread!

That's a pity! Dutch is high on my language wish list, I hope to tackle it at the end of 2021.
Even though it has a strong base of native speakers, Dutch is for sure the Cinderella of European languages, superseded by less spoken ones (Swedish, for example!).

Although I have likely not exhausted all options, I've just gone through a handful of options just recently and nothing. I am yet to find a Dutch bookseller in NL or BE with a decent range willing to send outside of NL/BE/LU. Very disappointing indeed. Well fortunately I put in a MASSIVE book order (i'm talking the price of a secondhand car, okay one that just goes, but very old) before bol.com shut this window down. However, now just before Christmas I was chasing something else in particular, but I can't get it anywhere. My only other option is some distant relatives that I've not done my best to keep in touch with in recent years... an unlikely option in reality.

So, it's a sad state of affairs for future Dutch learners wanting to purchase hard copies of books. I hope this changes. Maybe I'll change it myself?

I (in the UK) was recently unable to buy a downloadable audiobook from Thalia in Germany.

I sent them an email asking them to clarify the situation. then checking my outgoing email, I found I'd sent them almost the identical email (though for a different book) two years ago. I'd completely forgotten. Doh! I eventually got an almost identical reply, which was a very polite variation on "sorry, we can't, for licensing/copyright/whatever, reasons".

Fortunately, I found a 2nd hand version of the same audiobook on CD at Momox/Medimops (also in Germany), for a very reasonable price, which arrived in a very reasonable time. I've had good service from them in the past as well.

Thank goodness for old technology sometimes.

Most titles people want to read - in terms of original Dutch literature and some non-fiction - are available to purchase relatively cheaply at second-hand shops here in NL (often in pristine condition having been unread or read once). If I could match up a request with an item I'd gladly send it for the carriage costs plus the nominal fee for the item.

Le Baron wrote:Most titles people want to read - in terms of original Dutch literature and some non-fiction - are available to purchase relatively cheaply at second-hand shops here in NL (often in pristine condition having been unread or read once). If I could match up a request with an item I'd gladly send it for the carriage costs plus the nominal fee for the item.

That's a very kind offer, Le Baron, cheers.

Re-igniting this thread...

It's not been much of an issue for me sourcing physical Dutch books in recent times due to opting for a few Dutch magazines for reading with the kids, which was all new and shiny, and given I've still a good number of books purchased from late 2020 via bol.com before their frustrating policy came into effect (no longer sending outside BE/NL and ? Lux), until recently....

I visited this issue again and have been met with more frustrations. De Vries van Stockum (chain of independent bookstores within NL) around a year or so ago indicated they would be able to send to Australia. This has changed when I recently asked the same question to 'no, we no longer send outside of NL/BE' I then went to the Vandale.nl website, a site representing the Dutch (language) institution is probably the best way to describe it. They make some pretty decent language learning content and dictionaries for several languages. Right, looks good, I go to order (I'm chasing some hefty desk-appropriate Van Dale very large dictionaries) and no... we don't send physical items to your country. A few choice words fly out my mouth.

I then try Abebooks, Bookdepository, Fnac, amazon.com.au and keep hitting walls. 3rd party sellers can't send here is one, very old used versions of books i'm chasing (not interested), or newer versions on amazon.com.au at insanely marked up prices. Markplaats won't send outside NL and so on and so forth.

If the EU was supposed to facilitate cross border transactions/markets, well I'm not impressed.

To be continued (I guess)...

Edit: My kindle has also aided in alleviating the issue, but when I want physical books for particular things (kids reading, large dictionaries), I just can't seem to make it happen.

PeterMollenburg wrote:If the EU was supposed to facilitate cross border transactions/markets, well I'm not impressed

Only within the EU, it is a closed shop, and you live in a "third country".

PeterMollenburg wrote:I then try Abebooks, Bookdepository, Fnac, amazon.com.au and keep hitting walls. 3rd party sellers can't send here is one, very old used versions of books i'm chasing (not interested), or newer versions on amazon.com.au at insanely marked up prices. Markplaats won't send outside NL and so on and so forth. .

UK retailer Blackwells are quite good for non-English books, they have a lot of branches on university campuses.

Some UK 2nd hand dealers I've bought from via Amazon UK marketplace are World of Books, Greener books, Music Magpie and Brit books.

rdearman wrote:

PeterMollenburg wrote:If the EU was supposed to facilitate cross border transactions/markets, well I'm not impressed

Only within the EU, it is a closed shop, and you live in a "third country".

Yes, it's a good point, but they actually won't even send Dutch books to other EU countries (aside from Belgium and Luxembourg).

DaveAgain wrote:

PeterMollenburg wrote:I then try Abebooks, Bookdepository, Fnac, amazon.com.au and keep hitting walls. 3rd party sellers can't send here is one, very old used versions of books i'm chasing (not interested), or newer versions on amazon.com.au at insanely marked up prices. Markplaats won't send outside NL and so on and so forth. .

UK retailer Blackwells are quite good for non-English books, they have a lot of branches on university campuses.

Some UK 2nd hand dealers I've bought from via Amazon UK marketplace are World of Books, Greener books, Music Magpie and Brit books.

Thanks DaveAgain.

I'll take a look at these options, cheers.