A library book taken out almost 40 years ago has been returned to the shelves of a library in Groesbeek, the library said on Twitter.

‘Return to Oegstgeest’, by Jan Wolkers, should have been returned on March 5 1981 but it took 39 years, 13 weeks and 5 days before someone handed it in. The person in question said he found the book in the attic.

‘Sometimes you just don’t believe your own eyes,’ the Tweet read. ‘The reader must have had trouble letting go.’

It is extraordinary the book was returned at all because the library had moved to three different addresses in the intervening 40 years. ‘He really made an effort to find the right address and return the book. The address on the card is out of date by 35 years,’ a staff member of the library told RTL.

The maximum fine for a late return is €5. If there had been no limit the fine would have been €1530,75, the library said.

Soms geloof je als medewerker van de #bibliotheek je eigen ogen niet. Dit boek werd vandaag weer ingeleverd: 39 jaar, 13 weken en 5 dagen te laat! De lezer kon het vast moeilijk loslaten 😉 #janwolkers #terugnaaroegstgeest pic.twitter.com/0zbfS3W8vH

— Bibliotheek Gelderland Zuid (@bieb024) June 8, 2020