Need to wine/wind down?
Luddites opens in Antwerp as new hotspot for book and wine lovers
Antwerp, 6 March 2020 – Attention all book and wine enthusiasts: Luddites, located on Hopland in Antwerp, has officially opened its doors. Designed as a safe haven for people seeking to escape the digital world, Luddites offers a fine selection of English and Dutch books, as well as exceptional wines. With special book and wine pairings, and featuring events like board game nights and calligraphy classes, Luddites is the newest place to experience the past.
While the concept of a bookstore meets wine bar is not entirely new, Luddites is planting the concept in the middle of Antwerp for the first time, and taking it to the next level. They have the largest English language section in the city, and they offer it in an antiquated setting.
Luddites spans several floors of a repurposed townhouse from 1902, designed by Antwerp architect Jules Bilmeyer. “Established as architectural heritage, the neoclassicist building was the perfect place to house a safe haven for readers, wine lovers, or anyone seeking to disconnect and slow down for a bit” explain Richard Bolte and Jorien Caers, founders of Luddites Books & Wine.
The name Luddites is no coincidence. It is a term used to describe people who dislike new technology. In the same vein, Luddites is not a place to find e-readers or the thrillers and mystery books you can find online for a bargain. The book selection has a literary bend to it, though does include mainstream titles, usually in hardback or high-quality softcover. Their specialty sections include travel, fashion, cooking, and (of course) wine.
Hidden just upstairs is a wine bar where customers can enjoy an exceptional but affordable glass of wine. Luddites serves full selections of both natural and standard wines – each with their own story and each a rare find – as well as coffee and various teas.
The US meets Antwerp
For proprietors Richard (34) and Jorien (28), Luddites is the business of which they have always dreamed. Richard is an American who holds Master’s degrees in Literature and Education, and who fell in love with Antwerp when he moved there from New York five years ago. For him, the city with its thriving arts scene and large class of urban professionals was the ideal location to execute his vision of a place to enjoy quietude and good wine. Jorien was a librarian for four years in De Kempen. She is happiest when recommending books to those in need of direction and will therefore mostly manage the book section of Luddites.
Tanguy Ottomer
Luddites officially opened its doors last night with Antwerp city guide Tanguy Ottomer as a host. “I am a big supporter of initiatives like this in Antwerp and will surely visit Luddites regularly to find some peace and quiet in this vibrant city” explains Tanguy.
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