Largest library dedicated to magic and mysticism

The largest library of books relating to magical and mystical traditions is the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (aka the Ritman Library) located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The library, which is today part of a cultural centre called the Embassy of the Free Mind, was founded by Dutch businessman and bibliophile Joost Ritman in 1957. As of 25 November 2024, the library contains around 23,700 books on Christian hermeticism, alchemy, theosophy and other related topics.

The library has been housed in various locations over the years, but is currently situated in the Huis met de Hoofden ("House with the Heads"), an elaborately decorated historic townhouse in central Amsterdam. Ritman purchased the building in 2006, and it was formally opened to the public in 2016 by Ritman and his friend, The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown. The collection reflects Ritman's lifelong fascination with Christian hermeticism and mysticism, as well as other magical/mystical traditions such as Rosicrucianism, kabbala and alchemy.