Netherlands Has 1,500 Free Little Libraries and Counting

During the darkest days of Covid lockdowns, when bars closed and social gatherings stopped, one writer discovered an unexpected cure for cabin fever: hunting for tiny free libraries scattered across Dutch neighborhoods.

Minibiebs, as the Dutch call them, are small boxes or cabinets mounted outside homes, in parks, or on street corners. Their mission is beautifully simple: share books for free, no strings attached.

The concept started in 2008 when Todd Bol of Wisconsin built a little library to honor his schoolteacher mother. His nonprofit foundation aimed to surpass Andrew Carnegie's legacy of 2,509 free public libraries, hitting that goal by 2012.

Today, 200,000 little libraries exist worldwide. The Netherlands alone has at least 1,500, though the real number is likely higher since registration isn't required.

Why so many in the Netherlands? For starters, 85% of Dutch adults are regular readers according to survey data. The country's walkable cities and dense neighborhoods make these libraries easy to access on foot.

Each minibieb develops its own personality based on who lives nearby. Libraries near schools overflow with children's books, while those in other neighborhoods might be packed with fantasy novels or crime thrillers depending on local tastes.

Some are immaculately organized, tidied daily by devoted neighbors. Others embrace chaos, stuffed with old magazines and forgotten travel guides from decades past.

The Ripple Effect

The movement has grown beyond individual book lovers. In 2015, author Ronald Giphart set up a book exchange at Utrecht's train station that proved so popular, Dutch railway company NS now operates StationsBoekWissel exchanges in transport hubs nationwide.

These tiny libraries build more than literacy. They create connection in neighborhoods, turning anonymous streets into communities where people share not just books but a common love of reading.

And there's one more reason minibiebs thrive in the Netherlands: Dutch people appreciate a good deal, and you can't beat free.