[Anne Frank was born Annelies Marie Frank on on 12 June 1929]
Growing up on the other side of the world, I have only heard general stories about Anne Frank. In a nutshell, the context was about a young German – Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during the German occupation, wrote a diary about her life experiences during the time and later was captured, deported and died in the concentration camp.
All these years living in the Netherlands, I have always wanted to visit Anne Frank House (Dutch: Anne Frank Huis). It was one of those things that I wanted to do but I kept putting it off again and again. Tickets were hard to book!
The Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam was previously Otto Frank’s place of business, Opekta. A company that started in Germany and expanded into the Netherlands in 1933. Otto moved from Germany to Amsterdam to become the managing director for the new Dutch operation. He was in charge of the manufacturing and distribution of the pectin-based gelling agent to make homemade jam.
On 5 July 1942 when Anne’s sister Margot received a call-up notice for a labour camp in Germany, the Frank family decided to go into hiding in the annexe of the business premises the next day. The Van Pels family followed a week after and four months later, Fritz Pfeffer joined in. For the next two years, four of Otto Frank’s trusted employees kept these eight people hidden in the “Secret Annex”, behind a hinged bookcase.
On 4 August 1944, the Sicherheitspolizei (English: Security Police) raided the hiding place. Someone had betrayed them. The people from the Secret Annex were taken to Westerbork in the Dutch province of Drenthe and then put on a transport to Auschwitz. Otto Frank was the only one to survive the concentration camps.
Anne’s wish came true on 25 June 1947 when her book “Het Achterhuis” was published. Otto fulfilled his daughter’s wish as a writer. 3000 copies were printed for the first edition. The book became an international success. People read the diary and many of them wanted to see the place where Anne wrote it.
The Anne Frank House organisation was established in 1957. Its main purpose was to preserve the hiding place and open it up to the public, and to promote the ideals of Anne Frank in the process. Otto Frank was there to witness the opening of Anne Frank House on 3 May 1960.
I finally made up my mind to visit the museum. I tried several times to book tickets and was disappointed. Admission tickets are only sold directly through the Anne Frank House and only online. Tickets are usually sold out many weeks in advance!
When I did, I booked my museum visit (+€16.00) with the introductory program (+€7.00). The additional 30 minutes took me through the history of Anne Frank in the context of the Second World War and the persecution of the Jews. The guide sat us in a room and provided us with a brief history with a timeline, photos, artefacts and equipped with audio-visual as well. A fantastic crash course if you have no idea about Anna Frank and the surrounding background. We were allowed to take photos.
The museum itself provides an overview of the life of Anne Frank and her family, her diary and the period in hiding. Complimentary audio guide is included! It was a fulfilling experience wandering through the museum reading quotes, looking at photos, videos and admiring original items. Never mind the steep stairs. It was so surreal to see the infamous bookcase right in front of me. Smaller than I expected. Standing in the middle of the hiding place was truly heart breaking. I got emotional imagining what life was like back then completely concealed from the world for 25 months!! Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the museum. I shall not forget.
Website: https://www.annefrank.org/en/
Address: Entrance at Westermarkt 20. 1016 DK Amsterdam.
Opening hours: Everyday 9 am – 10 pm.
Entrance fees: €16.00 (adults), €7.00 (10 – 17yrs old) and €1.00 (0 – 9 yrs old). Museum Card holders pay surcharge €1.00.
The audio tours are available in nine languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Getting there: 20-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station or take tram 13 or 17 and alight at the Westermarkt stop.
Read also:
Anne Frank Statue on Westermarkt
Anne Frank Statue on Merwedeplein
Anne Frank Home on Merwedeplein
Bookshop Jimmink where Anne got her diary
Likely one of the most significant events in Dutch history. Even though it was a relatively small event, in the sense its just about one family, it tells a story that makes us remember the destruction and mass murder of 100.000s of Jewish people in The Netherlands. Never forget.