In the middle of the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood, once a hotbed of activism and squats, stands the unique bookshop Het Fort van Sjakoo. Not a standard bookshop, but a collective run by volunteers. Since the 1980s, this place has been selling political, social and radical books - with the aim of spreading ideas and supporting activist movements.

A shop with a mission

"We are not an ordinary bookstore," one of the volunteers of The Fortress of Sjakoo tells us. "We don't turn a profit. Everything we earn from book sales and our stands at events, we invest back into activist actions." The shop collaborates with independent writers, publishers and organisations. At the moment, think about issues such as migrant rights and Palestine, for example.

The legacy of an activist neighbourhood

The Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood has a long history of political action and squatter communities. "Our premises were once squatted and were later taken over by a foundation," explains the volunteer. Although the neighbourhood is changing, the shop remains a place of activism. "We have been here since 1987. People are surprised that a non-profit bookshop still exists in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood. In Amsterdam, places like this are increasingly disappearing to the suburbs."

A mix of visitors

The shop attracts a wide audience: from activists and writers to curious tourists. "We are one of the few energetic, radical bookstores in Europe. People come here to discover, to get ideas." With a team of 20 volunteers, some involved for more than 30 years, the bookshop persists as a bastion of free thought. "We are not just a shop. We are a movement," she concludes.