Join in the fun at the American Book Center’s 40th birthday party on June 9th!
ABC is marking a major milestone – the big 4-0! We’re throwing a birthday party in front of our store on the Spui in Amsterdam, complete with music, balloons, refreshments and plenty of fun for booklovers young and old.

The best part of any birthday celebration is the cake, so we're putting it in the spotlight.
Whether you’re a master baker or simply a lover of sweets, you’re warmly invited to be a part of the festivities.


Birthday Cake Competition with a Professional Jury
Do you think you can bake the perfect birthday cake? Then enter your masterpiece in ABC’s Birthday Cake Competition. Your creation might be one of the 15 finalists to be judged by a professional jury, including world-renowned pastry chef Cees Holtkamp, Elle Eten magazine's Lieke Sniekers, and Amsterdam chef and entrepreneur Philippe Jacobsz. There is more info on our blog post.

So roll up your sleeves and bake the ultimate ABC birthday cake! Interested? Please fill in the Birthday Cake Competition Entry Form

The cakes will be judged based on a number of qualities, including taste, creativity and presentation. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for the most beautiful and delicious cakes will win €100, €50 and €25 in ABC gift certificates. If you are one of the 15 finalists you will also receive a special ABC Birthday goodie bag. Everyone competing will be automatically entered into a special prize draw to win some fabulous baking books.

Cakes for a good cause at the ABC Charity Bake Sale
You can also take part in our bake sale for charity. Donate a cake, some muffins, cookies or other baked goods and we'll sell them at our party on the Spui in Amsterdam. All proceeds will go to De Open Deur*.
Everyone who contributes to the bake sale will get a chance to win fabulous baking books.
Please let us know what you're bringing via our: ABC Charity Bake Sale Entry Form

Agenda Amsterdam
11:00 Charity Bake Sale opens on the Spui
12:15 Winners of Birthday Cake Competition announced
12:30 All competition cakes sliced and sold to the public
13:00 Music and activities to delight and amaze you
15:00 Party ends

We’re looking forward to a fun-filled day on the square. We hope you can join us for a slice of cake!

ABC The Hague
If you can't join us for the big celebration in Amsterdam do drop by our store in the Hague for balloons, cupcakes and drinks for all our The Hague customers on June 9. We'll be playing 1972's music all day and you are invited to sing and play along!

Save the date for ABC’s All-Staff Reunion
If you’ve ever worked at ABC, this is for you: a big part of our four decades of success is thanks to YOU – everyone who contributed their enthusiasm, ideas, sense of humor, or just plain blood, sweat and tears over the years at the American Book Center.

As part of our celebrations for the big 4-0, we’re organizing a get together for all ABC employees, past and present. Please mark your agenda for Friday June 8th, because we can’t wait to see you there! More details will follow in the coming weeks to those who register at reunion40@abc.nl.
Please help us spread the word to other ex-colleagues you may know.

RSVP: Already know you want to attend the ABC alumni drinks? Please send an email to reunion40@abc.nl by June 1 and we’ll put you on the guest list.

We hope to see you at one of our ABC Birthday Parties!

If you are interested to know how The American Book Center started in 1972 and how we developed and changed over the last 40 years check out our "About Us Page"


*As many of our ABC staff and customers were also once new to this country, we have decided to work together with a charity called De Open Deur, our neighbor both physically and in spirit. De Open Deur helps provide emergency help for newcomers in need, without any government subsidy. There is more info on our blog post.