The most beautiful bookstore in the world is the Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands. A 700-year-old church refurbished by Dutch architects Merkx + Girod, the Selexyz Dominicanen has a three-story black steel book stack that reaches the stone vaults, and a cafe in the former choir where visitors can sit and admire the restored 14th century ceiling frescoes. Just take a look at this place.
The Netherlands doesn’t have enough criminals. The Dutch justice ministry announced it will close eight prisons and cut 1,200 jobs in their prison system because of the declining crime rate in the country.
Dutch artist Ron van der Ende makes really amazing wood relief sculptures inspired by photographs and reproductions he finds. Read his blog here (if you read Dutch) or just want to look at the pictures. Read an interview with van der Ende.