About us
Boekhandel-Antiquariaat Emile Kerssemakers is a family business with deep roots in the antiquarian book trade. Established in 1992, it has grown into a specialised online antiquarian bookshop with a wide-ranging stock and a strong international reputation.
A family of antiquarian booksellers
Emile Kerssemakers comes from a true family of antiquarian booksellers. His father Leo Kerssemakers ran Antiquariaat Alfa in Nijmegen and Grave. His uncle Peter Kerssemakers was active with antiquarian bookshop Hieronymus Bosch in Amsterdam, and Joep (Jeff) Kerssemakers had an antiquarian business in Paris. On his father’s side, an earlier generation had already been involved in the trade in Nijmegen. In addition, two of his father’s sisters were also active in the book trade for many years: Carolien, first at the public library in Arnhem and later with her own home-based antiquarian bookshop specialising in Buddhism, and Agnes Kerssemakers, who, among other positions, worked for many years for Bas Hesselink at Forum Antiquariaat.
Even so, Emile did not choose the book trade immediately. After a number of detours, from greengrocer to electrician, he entered the world of books through his father’s contacts at De Slegte in Arnhem. It soon became clear that the trade suited him very well.
From Folio to an online antiquarian bookshop
Before the internet era, Emile started the antiquarian bookshop Folio together with Paul de Jong in Nijmegen. Although it soon became clear that the business could not support two people, it was an important step. Emile withdrew and continued independently through fairs, markets and eventually, above all, online bookselling.
From his father’s former shop premises in Grave, the business gradually shifted towards internet sales. That development became definitive when Emile and his great love Loes continued together from Limburg from 2003 onwards. Today they run a fully online antiquarian business, with office and storage at home as well as a large storage facility on the Julia industrial estate in Eygelshoven.
Emile and Loes have a daughter, Louise, who is now 19 and studies in Nijmegen.
Stock and specialisation
The business specialises in religious books, but the stock is far broader and covers almost every imaginable subject. On average, around 30,000 titles are available online, while many thousands more remain in storage awaiting description and cataloguing.
We sell exclusively online. Collection in person is possible by appointment only.
Fairs, network and memberships
Emile has for many years been co-organiser of the Antiquarian Book Fair in Mechelen. Boekhandel-Antiquariaat Emile Kerssemakers is also a member of the NVvA (Dutch Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association) and ILAB, the international umbrella organisation for antiquarian booksellers.
Images from our history
Contact
If you have questions about our stock, are looking for a particular book, or would like to offer a collection, please feel free to contact us.
Address:
Van Alphenstraat 30
6416 EE Heerlen
Telephone: +31 (0)45 541 9587
Mobile: +31 (0)6 53 40 12 31
Email: info [at] kerssemakers [dot] com
Website: kerssemakers.com
We sell exclusively online. Pick-up by appointment only.
Boekhandel-Antiquariaat Emile Kerssemakers
Established in 1992
More than 50,000 titles in stock
Around 30,000 titles currently available online
Specialised in religious books, with a broad stock in many other subjects as well.
