In a series of interviews conducted by ABC’s Maria Minaya, we’re going to introduce you to (almost) everyone who works at The American Book Centers in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Books form an integral part of our lives not only because they’re our bread and butter, but because our passion for them came first. Our mission is to pass them on. By reading these interviews you’ll discover the faces behind your favorite sections and get a glimpse of who we are.

Meet Ilse

Where were you born?
I was born in a hospital in Alkmaar.

What was your favorite food as a kid and what did you hate?
I loved French fries and pancakes.  But I don’t really remember a food I hated.  Everything was fine.  At home I ate what was put on the table.  There was no real choice.

Were you read to as a child?
Yes, only by my mother.  My father was not involved with putting me to bed.  That was my mother’s job.

Did you have books in your house while growing up?
Yes, lots.  My father read quite often while my mother didn’t.  Now she reads more than she did then.

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