The Chained Library of Zutphen · Books Chained to the Shelves

In St Walburga’s Church in Zutphen there is a small library, the only surviving chained library in the Netherlands: every book hangs on an iron chain, fixed to a rod on the reading desk.

In the Middle Ages a book cost far more than a chain, and the chains were there to stop people carrying the books off. A few hundred chained books remain, along with an account book “half eaten by mice”.

It opens only in summer. The librarian says: the books are still in their places, and the chains only keep them from leaving.

Historical Mysteries / Zutphen · Netherlands / 1564