The World’s 100 Best Libraries · 2026
The Best Libraries in the Netherlands
7 of the 100 libraries in The World’s 100 Best Libraries 2026 are in the Netherlands. The highest placed is Neude Library in Utrecht, at number 25 in the world. LocHal Library in Tilburg (number 27) and School 7 in Den Helder (number 57) follow.
Converted buildings
The Neude Library in Utrecht is in a former post office of the Amsterdam School. LocHal in Tilburg is a locomotive hall of 1932 behind the station, with its steel trusses and cranes left in place. School 7 in Den Helder is in a former school.
New buildings
OBA Oosterdok in Amsterdam opened in 2007 to a design by Jo Coenen and has a restaurant with city views on the top floor. Rozet in Arnhem shares its building with a heritage centre and has a roof terrace. Deventer Library and De Nieuwe Bibliotheek in Almere are city-centre buildings with cafés; Almere's also has a cinema.
Libraries
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N° 25
Neude Library
Utrecht
Public library
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N° 27
LocHal Library
Tilburg
Public library -
N° 57
School 7
Den Helder
Public library -
N° 76
Deventer Library
Deventer
Public library -
N° 79
OBA Oosterdok
Amsterdam
Public library -
N° 85
Rozet
Arnhem
Public library -
N° 91
De Nieuwe Bibliotheek
Almere
Public library
Best by region
- The NordicsDeichman BjørvikaOslo, NorwayN° 2
- EuropeState Hall of the Austrian National LibraryVienna, AustriaN° 1
- AsiaIshikawa Prefectural LibraryKanazawa, JapanN° 18
- The Middle EastQatar National LibraryDoha, QatarN° 3
- North AmericaSeattle Central LibrarySeattle, United StatesN° 10
- Latin AmericaRoyal Portuguese Cabinet of ReadingRio de Janeiro, BrazilN° 14
- OceaniaState Library VictoriaMelbourne, AustraliaN° 12