London’s Guardian newspaper proclaimed the heart-stopping, breathtaking Bookstore Domincanen to be the most beautiful bookstore in the world. A former 13th-century Dominican church, this bookstore is housed amidst the sweeping arches of the former church, the top levels reaching close enough to see the painstakingly careful brushwork that bedecks the ceiling. The interior space, designed by Amsterdam architects Merkx + Girod, is a true marriage of traditional and modern, with the store itself a paradigm of sleek, Scandanavian design. The selection of books is wide, and includes a large English section.