Maritime store LJ Harri exchanges Amsterdam for Rotterdam after 290 years
A spicy transfer is imminent for the historic nautical shop LJ Harri in the Schreierstoren on the Prins Hendrikkade. After 290 years, the historic business, specialized in nautical charts and nautical books, is leaving for Rotterdam. Partly due to the accessibility of the store and the relocation of the passenger terminal, the store is missing out on many tourists. “Port life is embraced much more in Rotterdam,” says Klaas Jan Hoeve, employee of the bookshop.
Historic nautical shop LJ Harris exchanges Amsterdam for Rotterdam after 290 years – NH Nieuws
“Water sports are aging and in the corona period we saw that our webshop was booming,” says Hoeve. “Almost more came to the store and that has continued over the past period.”
During the time of the VOC, the Schreierstoren was an important departure point for many expeditions around the world. None other than the Englishman Henry Hudson started from this journey to New York where later a river was towered to him. Since 1730, the business has been a beacon for seafarers in search of nautical charts and instruments.
“We are still repairing a sextant of compass”
“What we here about maps and books, that nobody else in the Netherlands. The most important beginning of this company is the navigation instrument. We still repair a sextant of a compass”
A French visitor to the store did not know that the business will leave at the end of the year, but finds it a shame to hear that the store is moving. “It’s a surprise to find such a store in a big city like Amsterdam,” says the sailing enthusiast. “If you want to make a world trip with your sailboat, you will have to go to Rotterdam to be well informed there,” concludes Hoeve.
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