About the Reyghere bookshop
"History and future of De Reyghere
In 1888, the couple Edmond De Reyghere-Julie Laridon started a bookshop and a printing company at Geldmuntstraat no. 13-15. The family business arose at a time when the need for training and information in Bruges was becoming increasingly tangible. After all: 40% of the inhabitants of Bruges were illiterate at that time. After the death of her husband, the widow Julie Laridon continued the business. Two of her sons, Maurice and Lucien would help her with this.
From the outset, the bookstore sold the best-known domestic and foreign newspapers, magazines and books. In addition, the first tourist guides and maps were created in-house. The bookstore was a true success and they had to look for a larger building. In 1920, De Reyghere moved to the corner of the Markt, being that of Breidelstraat and Wollestraat. Julie had the new name "Librairie Centrale-Centrale Boekhandel" applied in large letters on the facade. There was also room to house the organization of press distribution in Bruges.
De Reyghere was truly at home in all markets and followed the latest trends closely. When the Dutch-language book started to manifest itself more and more in the 1920s, De Reyghere organized a successful exhibition in De Hallen. The guest books therefore contain many words of praise from numerous writers, including Stijn Streuvels, Ernest Claes, etc.
De Reyghere played an important role not only in the literary world, but also in the field of free expression. The book trade therefore regularly clashed with the judicial (the 'mores') and the ecclesiastical (the index) authorities. For example, pupils from Catholic schools were once forbidden to visit this bookshop.
When Julie Laridon died in 1930, her two sons went their separate ways. The eldest, Maurice, kept the 'Centrale Boekhandel' on the corner and brother Lucien bought building no.12 on the Markt. The latter was very Anglophile and his bookshop became known as 'English Bookshop'. He was also very fond of textbooks.
When the Second World War broke out ten years later, the family fled to England. The German occupier had Markt 12 declared forfeit and a recruitment office of 'De Vlag' was opened there. After the war, Maurice's business on the corner was closed, but Lucien's bookshop was restarted. After his death in 1953, his daughter Lucienne De Reyghere took over the business. Under her leadership, the emphasis shifted to French literature, international press and tourism. Well-known writers were welcome there and a privileged bond was formed with Marguerite Yourcenar. An important correspondence developed between the two. Well-known Bruges residents such as Achille Van Acker, Prof. Strubbe and Marcel Van Houtruyve met each other in the bookshop almost every week.
In 1988 the bookstore turned 100 years old and a new breakthrough was needed. Aunt Lucienne left her business to her cousin Yvonne Steinberger. Together with her husband Joris Barbier, she developed the company into a true temple of books. The bookshop was renovated and the Dutch-language book was given a full place. Many book presentations took place there and the bookshop appealed to a wide audience. The initiative of 'Open Book' was born, which invited important speakers to our city every month. In 2000, De Reyghere was named the most literary bookshop in Flanders at the Boekenbeurs in Antwerp. As a result, turnover reached unprecedented heights and we were looking for expansion. The building no 13,
The many activities during the year 2002, 'Bruges European Capital of Culture', appealed to many of our target group. It was a truly festive event. Times never stand still, of course: computerization became necessary, Facebook pages appeared and a new generation took over: Thomas Barbier joined the company in 2012 as co-manager, a fifth generation of booksellers driven by this family.
In 2013, we celebrated our 125th anniversary, which was inaugurated with an entirely new initiative. Where we used to be active in putting the book on the cultural map, we set up our salon in the spring of 2013. On the floor above the bookshop, our former family living room has been transformed into a literary meeting place where a rich program of literature, poetry, philosophy and art takes place. There is also room for special exhibitions. For example, we showed wonderful work by Jef Snauwaert, but we also realized a truly unique creative project with the exhibition "Images, colors, sounds". At the same time, our lounge is the workshop of our reading groups. Three Reading Groups run throughout the year under the expert leadership of Joris Barbier. In 2015 we also founded a poetry reading group.
Despite a long and volatile history, one thing has always been very central: De Reyghere wants to be a bookshop that gives books the necessary attention, grants them their rightful place in the public and cultural fabric and offers them a platform to present the messages that are hidden in them. get to the fore. And we hope to be able to continue on that élan for many years to come!"
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