Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House

Joseph Hollick

During the height of Nazi Occupation in Amsterdam, the Frank family made a bold decision not to flee the city, but instead to hide away in the secret annex of a building owned by the company of Otto Frank. Behind a movable bookcase lay a hidden stairway that led to the secret rooms where the Frank Family and others would remain for nearly 3 years. The time in captivity inspired the youngest daughter, Anne, to write her remarkable diary which is now read all over the world.

Visiting

The Anne Frank Museum is one of the few that does not offer tour guides. Visitors are allowed to walk through the former living quarters that once housed up to 8 people, hiding them away from Nazi persecution. Taking the tour allows visitors to get a sense of what it was like living in such small quarters for such an extended period of time. Disabled access is fairly limited in the museum. Visitors have to go through the original entryway behind the movable bookcase and climb the flight of stairs up to the living area. Those with limited mobility are recommended to contact the museum directly regarding special arrangements. If none can be made, there are several interactive exhibits on the ground floor of the museum that are worth seeing.

Collections

The museum works hard to keep the belongings and the collections housed in the house as they originally were. Several documents and personal letters are among the items in the museum. Several photos of the families and facsimiles of Anne Frank's diary are on display to view. Anne Frank used several books and items to write down her thoughts, some of which were altered after the war, many think by her father. Anne Frank herself rewrote parts of her diary on loose leaf paper, of which more than 300 pages still exist.

Location

The Anne Frank House is located at 267 Prinsengracht, Amsterdam 1000 AS. The actual building was set for demolition in the 1950s but was declared a museum in an effort to save it. It was given its official name, The Anne Frank House on May 3rd, 1957. It opened its doors as a visitor's museum 3 years later. The Anne Frank House is open every day of the year, including Christmas. It opens at 9am, and during the winter months, stays open until 7pm. Summertime hours increase from 9am to 10pm. Christmas day the museum is open from 12pm to 5pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum. 1 to 2 hours is recommended to view the house and activities in their entirety.