Lovely little hidden library to sit, study, and be with the books. I didn't get lost in the…read moreloveliness with my curiosity and roam around as much as I normally do. I do appreciate the various seating choices. I chose a cozy single spot to sit and write. There were people scattered amongst the books, reading, writing, reflecting. Libraries are just the best. I don't have much to say since my time was short and focused. I loved that this library is a bit off the beaten path and I look forward to sitting in the courtyard area, sipping a tea, when it gets warmer.

Ah, the Haarlem library. Being an American, I still can't get used to the fact that you have to…read morepay to be a member of the library, but I guess I can understand it. Anyway, it is not expensive, something like €30 per year or something like that. The place is not too bad. There is a lot of bike parking and there is a nice variety of things to check out. They have a few special sections too like a health oriented area, a learning Dutch area (great resource by the way for learning Dutch), a music playing areas (for testing out sheet music, and a computer area. In addition to the computers, they also offer free WiFi. Not all items are "free" (after paying your yearly membership) to checkout. Some items like DVD, CDs, and very recent books (they call them "sprinters") require a minimal fee. Mostly everything is self service from checking out items, returning items, and paying fines. There are of course friendly librarians on hand if you need them. They also have a café right inside as well. I haven't checked it out yet but plan to do so soon. If they don't have something you want, you can order it from another library, you can even do this from home when you login to the website and search for items in the catalog. When the item arrives to be picked up, you get an email. They usually have (either at the library or able to be ordered from another library) pretty much anything that I am looking for. For those of you that don't know Dutch, there is an English section and also some sections with different language books as well, I think French is one of them but I'm not sure. In summary, I good resource here in Haarlem for books and more.

I wish I could give this a higher rating because I think the idea is great. First of all, here is…read morewhat is wrong: It is only open during rush hour (AM and PM) and closed during all other times. So if you use the train a lot like I do but don't use it for work (like I don't) then you can never use this library. Secondly even if you are already a member of the Library in Haarlem, you have to pay extra to be able to use this branch even though you can use all the other branches at no extra charge. Why I like it: They did a lot with a small space. The place is setup like a small book store. They have new interesting books on display for people to check out books are also arranged in categories as well. They have iMacs that you can use to go online, and a coffee machine and some chairs to enjoy a bit of reading. Bottom line: I would like to use this library, but why should I pay extra for something that I am already a member of when the hours that they are open are quite minimal?

OBA Oosterdok is more than just a library; it's a destination. The architecture is beautiful and…read moremodern. I loved that the ground floor is dedicated to kids, making it very welcoming for families, while the upper floors remain quiet and perfect for studying. If you're looking for a place to be productive, OBA Oosterdok is it. It's massive (7 floors!) so you can almost always find a corner to settle into. They've clearly thought about modern needs: ample power outlets, tons of desk space, and fast, free Wi-Fi. Once you're done working, head upstairs to the cafe. The outdoor space offers one of the best views of the city center you can find. Truly a gem of a public space!

7 stories of an amazing library and building. Now, we were just visiting tourists so we were not…read morechecking out books or using library services. I'm a lover of books and public libraries so to visit one in another country is a must do and this one specifically is beyond cool. 7 stories, gender neutral bathrooms, located right on the heart of town, ams a cafe with views. Had up to the 7th floor and grab a beverage or smash from the café and find a patio table overlooking the water... amazing

Nice place to study. You don't need to be UvA student to access, but you do to use the computers or…read morethe wifi. The CREA cafe inside it's very cheap, but only accept Maestro cards. Place to scan and print also and lots of computers, and you can check how many are available on the website.

A beautiful museum about spiritual wisdom with a cafe and library and small bookshop and lounge and…read moregarden in the center of Amsterdam...

From the owner: The Embassy of the Free Mind is a new international platform that harnesses spirituality, science,…read moreart, culture, music and storytelling to promote and share free thought. Located in the majestic 17th-century House with the Heads on Amsterdam's Keizersgracht, the Embassy combines a range of functions: knowledge centre, international meeting place, study room, cafe and a living room of Amsterdam. The project is an initiative of The Worldheart Foundation. The Embassy of the Free Mind is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am to 5pm and offers a versatile programme that includes museum experience tours, talks, debates, lectures, concerts and conferences.

Who doesn't love a library?! Great stop for a mingle in the cafe, homework, work, and of course…read morereading a good book. Plenty of little reading nooks, different seating options, and even looks like you can reserve the big table in the cafe part of the library for group gatherings. Bring coins to access the restrooms and all spaces are highly accessibility (elevators, doors, counters, amongst a few to point out).

From the owner: Per 1 januari 2009 zijn de openbare bibliotheken van Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard en Castricum gefuseerd…read moretot de Bibliotheek Kennemerwaard. Op 1 juli 2008 is de Stichting Bibliotheek Kennemerwaard opgericht. Het bestuur wordt gevormd door een Raad van Toezicht. Directeur van de basisbibliotheek is Erna Winters. De organisatie bedient een werkgebied van ongeveer 180.000 inwoners, heeft 9 vestigingen en een enorme collectie aan boeken, bladmuziek, cd's en dvd's. In totaal werken er ongeveer 130 beroepskrachten. Daarnaast zijn er veel vrijwilligers actief.

The central public library in Den Haag is attached to the city hall, very centrally located in the…read morecentre of town. In addition to books and other such library items, they also have a really good setup of tables and couches and free wifi if you're looking for a quiet place in the centre of the city to study or work for a few hours. I came here because I had a couple of hours to kill and some work to get done on my computer, and I didn't feel like paying for endless cups of coffee in a cafe. I snagged a spot at a table, easily connected to the free wifi, and got to work! Since I don't live in The Hague, this is the most useful purpose of the building for me. However, I'm sure it's also a great library for borrowing books!!!!!

From the owner: De zes verdiepingen van de Centrale Bibliotheek met informatie en ontspanning zijn vrij…read moretoegankelijk voor iedereen, lid of geen lid van de bibliotheek. Verdeeld over de verdiepingen zijn er zo'n 600 individuele studieplaatsen Ook voor krant of favoriete tijdschrift is de bibliotheek het juiste adres.