. Would you like to change the delivery address of your recent order?
In this case, contact the VU Bookstore. Please mention your order information when contacting us.
You can change your account information during your next order, or directly via Account information.
Are you not interested in ordering anything or do you prefer that we change it for you? In this case, contact one of our staff.
Please mention your order information when contacting us.
I would like to receive my delivery on an address different from my home address. Is that possible?
You will receive your delivery on the address you filled in while ordering.
If this is not the right address, please contact one of our staff.
Please mention your order data when contacting us. While ordering, you can choose to receive your invoice on an address different from your delivery address. You can change this information for each order.
The VU Bookstore sells textbooks for all courses offered by the VU.
For a list of all courses and subjects, please see vuboekhandel.nl. We have books in stock for the current or upcoming term. We don't have all books for the entire academic year in stock at the same time.
You can visit the VU Bookstore to buy textbooks, or you can order via vuboekhandel.nl.
We also work together with study associations. See our website for an overview. As a member of a study association, you can buy books with a discount, ensuring that you'll pay the lowest price possible!
Nowhere in the Netherlands can you buy textbooks cheaper than via a study association at the VU. As a member, you can take advantage of our low-price-guarantee. If you're able to find the textbook for a lower price at a different Dutch webshop, you will receive the difference from us. Another reason to become a member.
Where can I see which books I need?
Every course at the VU has a study guide. You can find these study guides online.
In the study guides you can find exactly which subjects you are going to follow.
If you know exactly which subjects you're going to follow, you can select your books per term on our website.
We get our information from the study guides, or we receive the information directly from the teachers.
Can I check which textbooks the VU Bookstore has in stock?
On our website, you can't view which books we actually have in store.
To check whether we have a book in stock, it's best to contact us or to visit us in the VU Bookstore.
A rule of thumb is that we have all studybooks for the current and upcoming term in stock. These can be delivered the next working day if you order online.
Are you not sure about a certain book? Contact us via:
studieboeken@vuboekhandel.nl and receive an answer the same working day.
The website mentions that a book is 'in stock'. What does that mean?
'In stock' means that we can deliver the book. 'In stock' does not necessarily mean that we have the book in store.
We have textbooks in stock for the current and upcoming term. 'In stock' does mean that we can order the book.
The time of delivery is dependant on where whe have ordered the book.
For textbooks for the current and upcoming term, time of delivery is usually several working days.
I need a textbook for a course that has already started, but the book is not available at the VU Bookstore. What can I do?
It is possible that your delivery has been delayed. This could have different causes.
We do everything we can to have prescribed textbooks in stock as fast as possible. Most of the time, the following applies: if you weren't able to get it, other students also haven't been able to get it.
We try our best to deliver books as soon as possible. We notify the teacher of any problems that may occur.
I bought a textbook, but I am not continuing my study. Can I return it?
You can only return textbooks if you can demonstrate that you are quitting your study. Please bring your receipt(s). The books must be in perfect condition.
Does the VU Bookstore sell second-hand textbooks?
The VU Bookstore does not sell second-hand textbooks. You can offer your books for sale via vuboekhandel.nl. We sell second-hand books in cooperation with the study associations of the VU. You'll receive a good amount for your second-hand textbook and it will be sold quickly via the study association.
Does the VU Bookstore have booklists which mention exactly which textbooks I need?
The VU Bookstore does not have any booklists which mention exactly which textbooks you'll need.
The amount of different courses makes this impossible. In the study guide and online at vuboekhandel.nl is mentioned clearly which books you need for each subject.
Im going to follow a subject, but it isn't mentioned on the the VU Bookstore website. What can I do?
For some subjects, no books are prescribed. Those subjects are not mentioned on our website.
It is possible that there are no books for a certain subject on our site, while there are prescribed books for that subject. We'd like to hear about it via:
mijnstudievereniging@vuboekhandel.nl I would like to buy all my textbooks at once, is that possible?
You can buy all your textbooks at once, but we advise against it. It is both very expensive and risky, because the prescribed literature may change. Additionally, textbooks can be replaced by newer editions.
This means that you may buy the wrong book, or that you may buy a book which you don't need at all. Only order books for the upcoming term to be guaranteed to get the right books!
I need syllabi, can I buy them at the VU Bookstore?
Apart from textbooks, the VU Bookstore also sells syllabi. For the faculty of Law in particular, we often have syllabi in stock.
Syllabi and readers are ordered by professors or subject coordinators. They determine and communicate the required amount of syllabi to the press.
Can I check whether a certain syllabi is in stock?
We have all syllabi and readers which can be ordered via our website in stock. If they haven’t been posted online yet, they are not in stock(yet).
I’ve heard that a syllabi is not in stock. Can I order additional syllabi via the VU Bookstore?
The VU Bookstore cannot order syllabi. Syllabi and readers are ordered by professors or subject coordinators. They determine and communicate the required amount of syllabi to the press.
We do message professors/coordinators when we’ve run out of a certain syllabi.
It’s best to contact your professor yourself to ask about a fitting solution or if it’s possible for more syllabi to be printed.
What is a students’ union?
For each faculty of the VU, there are one or more students’ unions.
They organise all kinds of fun activities, like excursions, gatherings and parties. They also do something very important: they sell textbooks with high discounts.
You can’t buy textbooks elsewhere for a lower price! So sign up and make use of your discount!
Which students’ union belongs to my study?
Click
here to see which student's union belongs to your study.
What discount do I get on textbooks if I'm a member of a students' union?
If you’re a member of a students’ union, you can get great deals on textbooks.
Ask your faculty’s students’ union about the conditions. Buying textbooks at students’ unions is always cheaper than elsewhere.
Reserving Dutch textbooks
If you reserve at a students’ union, you can get 10% off textbooks in Dutch.
To get this discount, you must reserve the book in advance. This has to do with Dutch law.
If you haven’t reserved a book in advance, we cannot give you 10% off.
Ordering and paying for Dutch textbooks.
If you order Dutch textbooks via your students’ union’s website, you get a 5% discount.
You only get this discount if you’re ordering at least two Dutch textbooks at once as a member of a student’s union.
You also get a 5% discount when you pay for your books directly at your students’ association or at the VU Bookstore.
Also in this case, you can only get the discount if you’re ordering at least two Dutch textbooks at once as a member of a student’s union. You have to be able to prove that you’re a member at the counter.
These rules are a result of the Dutch Law of Fixed Book Prices.
Ordering and paying for English textbooks.
As a member of a students’ union, you can always get great deals on (text)books in English.
It doesn’t matter whether you order your textbooks online, buy them at your students’ union or at the VU Bookstore: you always get a 12 to 15% discount on textbooks in English.
Starting this year, you can also get 10% off on ‘normal’ English literature at the VU Bookstore. This discount is exclusively for members of a students’ union.
Where can I sign up for a students’ union?
Sign up now! It’s most likely that it’s already worth it after your first order.
You can sign up if you order via your students’ union’s webshop.
You can also become a member directly in the VU Bookstore. To do this, ask for the form at the counter. It’s also possible to sign up via (the websites of) the unions themselves.
Click
here for a list of all students’ unions.
Is there a student discount on ‘normal’ literature at the VU Bookstore?
As a member of a students’ union, you’re entitled to a 10% discount on English books. From novels to non-fiction; English books are cheap at the VU Bookstore.
As a professor, where can I indicate which textbooks I want to prescribe?
We are happy to hear from you which books you are planning on using.
That information is very important to us. We make sure that we have the books in stock. If any delivery problems occur, we will inform you.
Because we order books in large quantities, we can offer low prices to students. As a result of our cooperation with students’ unions, we can guarantee that all VU-students receive their books on time for a low price.
On our site, you can fill in the form on the page ‘Professors’ to inform us about the textbooks you’re prescribing. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Can I receive a teacher copy via the VU Bookstore?
On the ‘Professors’ page on our website, you can request a teacher copy easily.
Because of our outstanding communication with all large publishers, we can almost always send you a copy.
Does the VU Bookstore sell second-hand textbooks?
Yes, the VU Bookstore sells second-hand textbooks. You can offer your books for sale via
this link. Second-hand books are sold via the students’ unions we cooperate with. You receive a good amount for your second-hand textbook, and it gets sold quickly. Once somebody has bought your book, you’ll receive your money quickly. Please read the message you receive after offering a book for sale carefully.
What amount do I receive?
That differs per book. While offering you can choose either ‘used’ or ‘well used’. A ‘well used’ book contains a lot of annotations, whereas a 'used' book looks as good as new. Consequently, you’ll receive the highest amount for a ‘used’ book.
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