Amsterdam: Anne Frank House

A visit to the Anne Frank Huis represents a deeply moving journey through Amsterdam’s Holocaust history. It’s a stark reminder of the tragic fate that befell the city’s Jewish community during WWII. Of the 107,000 Jewish individuals deported from the Netherlands to concentration camps, a mere 5,000 survived the Holocaust.

Treading the airless rooms of the “Secret Annexe”, where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis for over two years, brings the enormity of the Holocaust’s atrocities into a deeply personal perspective. The hidden life they led here under the Nazi occupation; their desperate hopes, and the fear that eventually led to their capture, are all palpable realities within these walls. The original diary entries of Anne, penned in this very hideaway, offer a glimpse into this dark period of history.

The Story of Anne Frank and the Frank Family

Born in Germany in 1929, Anne Frank, along with her sister Margot Frank and parents Otto and Edith Frank, fled from the horrors of the Holocaust when Hitler rose to power in 1933. In their quest for liberation from Nazi occupation, the family found refuge in Amsterdam, a city rich in Jewish history and culture. Here, Otto Frank established businesses selling pectin, meat, and sausage seasoning. He operated from offices and warehouses nestled along the historic Prinsengracht Canal.

In the wake of Germany’s Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1940, Otto Frank and his associate Hermann van Pels established a secret sanctuary known as the “Secret Annexe” within Otto’s workplace in the spring of 1942.  They were aided by the Dutch Resistance who supplied essential provisions throughout their clandestine residency. On Anne’s 13th birthday in June of that year, she was gifted her iconic red plaid diary. When Margot Frank was summoned by the Nazis in July, the Frank family sought refuge in the secluded hidden room behind the bookcase entrance.

Two years of quietude

The Frank family were soon accompanied by Hermann van Pels, his wife Auguste, their son Peter Van Pels. Later, their friend, dentist Fritz Pfeffer joined them. Together they navigated their hidden life in the Secret Annexe during the Nazi occupation. For just over two years, they lived in enforced quietude, with blacked-out windows and daytime silence, a chilling echo of the Jewish persecution during WWII. Anne Frank documented this profound experience, her vivid dreams and hopeful aspirations in her original diary, a poignant symbol of Amsterdam’s Holocaust history.

In the fateful month of August 1944, under the shadow of the Nazi occupation, the Frank family’s hidden life in the Secret Annexe was tragically disrupted when they were betrayed under mysterious circumstances. The Gestapo swiftly came, seized their furniture and deported all eight hiders, marking a dark chapter in Jewish history. Young Anne Frank, only 15, met her tragic fate in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in March 1945, mere weeks prior to its liberation.

However, the legacy of Anne Frank lived on. Her diary, a poignant testament to her life and the horrors of the Holocaust, was salvaged from the ransacked Secret Annexe. It was published by her father, Otto Frank, the sole survivor, eternally preserving Anne’s narrative and spirit. The diary has since become a significant artifact of WWII, selling millions of copies, translated into over 70 languages, and is available for purchase at the museum’s bookshop.

The memorial to Anne Frank is strategically located near the Holocaust Museum.

What to Experience at the Anne Frank Huis

Inside the modern shell that now encases the historical landmark, the lower levels of the Anne Frank Huis present an emotional journey through Amsterdam’s Holocaust history using interactive displays. These include WWII newsreels overlaid with narration from Anne’s original diary entries. You can explore Otto Frank’s office, the workspace of Anne’s father and business partner, along with other colleagues who played a pivotal role in aiding the Frank family’s hidden life during the Nazi occupation. The exhibit also features displays of personal effects. It also includes war artifacts, and documents that provide a profound insight into the Jewish persecution during this tragic period.

The Secret Anexe

Stepping beyond the bookcase entrance, a hidden portal into the “Secret Annexe” of the achterhuis (rear house), you are instantly transported to the WWII period. This secluded space is nestled between the office kitchen and the attic. It seems suspended in 1942, the height of the Nazi occupation. The walls of Anne’s bedroom remain adorned with her treasured pictures of Hollywood celebrities and Dutch royalty. The mornings were marked by tension and silence, with the families refraining from using the bathroom to avoid alerting the warehouse workers of their hidden life. The midday meal, a respite in their day, was shared with their faithful helpers only when the office staff departed for lunch.

At Otto Frank’s behest, the Secret Annexe remains unfurnished. It reflects the stark reality of the hidden life led by the Frank family during the Nazi occupation. Following the museum’s inauguration in 1960, Otto commissioned models of the house to demonstrate the cramped living conditions and the meticulous concealment of the layout.

After touring the Annexe, visitors can delve further into Amsterdam’s Holocaust history in the front house. Here, haunting videos and exhibits await, including the jewel of the collection: Anne’s original diary, a poignant testament to her experiences, displayed alone in a glass case.

Tickets and Tours

Due to the intimate scale of the museum, capacity is limited. It is obligatory to purchase tickets in advance online, selecting a time slot for your museum visit. Please note that tickets cannot be changed or refunded. Tickets go on sale 6 weeks prior, and sell out quickly.

Immerse yourself in the profound narrative of the Holocaust with the help of audio guides.  These guides are available in multiple languages, included in your museum tickets. Although there are no guided tours, you can enhance your understanding of the war period, the persecution of the Jewish community, and the intriguing history of the Secret Annexe by adding an “introductory program” to your visit. This 30-minute talk prior to your museum visit provides a detailed understanding of the Frank family’s hidden life. It also shows the tragic fate of Jewish people during the Nazi occupation.

Best time to visit

The Anne Frank Huis, a poignant symbol of Amsterdam’s Holocaust history, is open daily, with exceptions noted on its website. Be sure to add the Ann Frank Huis as part of your Amsterdam itinerary.