Welcome Home Amsterdam: A literary guidebook to the city

by Talia Stone, Anna Trapmore (editor), Cigdem Guven (illustrator)

Welcome Home Amsterdam is a vibrant collection of short stories based in and around the Dutch capital. From the Golden Age to current times, these twelve fictional tales give a vivid glimpse of the real Amsterdam and shine an unexpected light on the city’s inhabitants: we experience how a remembrance service silences a rowdy student fraternity, how the Anne Frank House affects a woman born to fascist parents and how a young Turkish girl empowers the women in her neighbourhood.

It is no coincidence that water streams through these stories, threading them together, although the characters themselves are unaware that they are connected.

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2025

Reviews

[Ana Dias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a feel good book with its short stories and illustrations. If you know well or live in Amsterdam this is going to feel so special as you will hear the sounds and smell the smells as you read the stories. Everything felt very familiar in this book. And as a bonus I got to learn still new things about my city and its history.

[Gözde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a nice tone and a warmth to it. However, the story involving a Turkish family lacked proper research and I noticed some inaccuracies that made my experience not-so-pleasant. Overall, the stories didn’t quite captivate me and lacked a certain literary sharpness. That said, I did learn a lot about Amsterdam, which was a definite plus.

[Laura Ghitoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet book for a quick weekend reading. The illustrations are also absolutely gorgeous!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Amsterdam? Even if you have, you’ll hanker to return after reading Welcome Home Amsterdam. And before you go, I recommend you track down Talia Stone, the author, to personally take you on a tour. In her book she has honed a skill to bring historical sites to life in a unique way through fictitious stories built around each stop.

The reader gets a taste of Dutch history and culture within a wider world perspective. Not only do you get to dive deep into some of Amsterdam’s popular historical sites, but each chapter brings the reader nose to nose with our greater collective humanity. The vignettes sing of our human connectedness. She exposes the meaning of our existence through the interactions of her characters woven throughout the stories, leaving you at times giggling at the characters or in other scenes saddened over how things turned out. They were inspired by the myths and history of the famous city because each chapter ends with a bonus, a brief background of Holland’s history and culture behind it. The stories mixed with such a backdrop makes this book an absorbing read.

I was tickled to discover that in Holland, swimming in your clothes is mandatory in swimming lessons in case you fall into all the water of Holland. So, when you do visit Amsterdam, don’t fall into the water unless you had lessons.

This is a charming little book enhanced by atmospheric illustrations done in a graphic style that compliments each chapter. When I reached the end, all I could think was, “More please!”
Welcome Home Amsterdam: A literary guidebook to the city

[Renae Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author intimately takes you through all the nooks and crannies, all those cracks and openings that hold the stories-the people-that make Amsterdam what it is today.

[Jerome Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful tour around the city of Amsterdam through the eyes of Talia Stone. These short little stories are not only engaging they also tell the history of the city of Amsterdam. Each story is a like a little jewel woven into the fabric which is Amsterdam. In my opinion, each of these stories could be made into a short film. And all those short films could be made into a film about Amsterdam. Lovely book!

[Inez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome Home Amsterdam is a precious collection of short stories about Amsterdam and The Netherlands. Each chapter is written with a lot of compassion for the characters, making each story like a little pearl. It’s the perfect gift for someone who’s new to The Netherlands, but it’s equally enjoyable for Dutchies. Highly recommended!

[Tina James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book on a shelf featuring local authors while visiting the Netherlands. What a delight to read! The author shared almost a dozen short stories of Amsterdam. Even though the book is a work of fiction, the places she mentioned are real. I feel like I learned more about Amsterdam and some of the cultural aspects and traditions of Dutch life.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little fictional book telling stories around Amsterdam.

[Rob Manthey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories that shows different sides of Amsterdam, from landmarks to residents. The book is a good way to get some local flavor through its concise and thoughtful writing.

[Hannah Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of short stories about a city I once called home. Talia does an excellent job of showcasing various pockets geographically, but also historically. This is my go-to gift book for people either moving to Amsterdam, or visiting, as it gives them a taste of the city and it's rich history. The illustrations done by Cigdem Guven also make for an artistically pleasing book. The size is great too - perfect to stick in your back and take with you through the city.

[Jilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful emotional vignettes that at the same time tell you something about Amsterdam and its history.