Dutch libraries launch summer reading incentives: free books, ice cream

The library in Nieuwegein (Utrecht province) is offering children up to age twelve a free ice cream for each of five books they read during the summer. Participants collect stamps on an "ice card" at the information desk; five stamps can be exchanged for an ice cream at a nearby shop. Library team leader Susanne Mol said the card is “a boost to keep reading over the holidays.”

In the Midden‑Brabant region, the public library system is running a parallel promotion. Residents who bring in a specially designed postcard can obtain a free flex‑subscription, allowing them to borrow five books immediately. The borrowed books may be kept for three months, after which users can decide whether to continue the subscription or switch to another plan. Both initiatives aim to encourage summer reading and make library services more attractive to the community.