Anne Frank House
Noord-Holland
The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum located in central Amsterdam on the Prinsengracht canal. It preserves the Secret Annex, a hidden rear extension of a 17th-century canal house where Anne Frank, her family, and others hid from Nazi persecution during World War II. Anne Frank's diary, written while in hiding, became a seminal document of the Holocaust after her death in concentration camps. The museum comprises three adjacent buildings, including the preserved Secret Annex and exhibition spaces on Anne's life, the Holocaust, and broader themes of discrimination. It attracts over a million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands. The house was originally built in 1635 and served various functions before becoming the site of Otto Frank's spice company and the family's hiding place. After the war, the Anne Frank Foundation was established to protect the property from demolition, leading to the museum's opening in 1960. The museum has since expanded with modern facilities to accommodate its large visitor numbers while maintaining the historical integrity of the Secret Annex.
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Tip: Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the largest crowds. Advance ticket purchase online is highly recommended due to high demand and limited entry times. The museum offers discounts for students, seniors, and groups. Photography inside the Secret Annex is prohibited to preserve the atmosphere. Guided tours and audio guides are available in multiple languages to enrich the visit.
Interesting facts
- •The Anne Frank House is the third most visited museum in the Netherlands, after the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
- •The Secret Annex where Anne Frank hid was only about 42 square meters (450 square feet) in size.
- •Only Otto Frank survived the group of eight people who hid in the Secret Annex; Anne Frank died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.
- •The museum includes a modern wing built in the 1990s designed by Benthem Crouwel architects, which houses a youth center and student residences.
- •Anne Frank’s diary was rescued by Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl, employees who helped hide the family, after the arrest of the occupants.
History
The Anne Frank House was originally built in 1635 as a canal house and underwent renovations in 1740.
During World War II, Otto Frank moved his spice company offices to the building at Prinsengracht 263.
From 1942 to 1944, Anne Frank and seven others hid in the Secret Annex at the rear of the building to escape Nazi persecution.
After their arrest in 1944, the hiding place was cleared, but some personal belongings and Anne's diary were saved by helpers.
Otto Frank survived the Holocaust and later established the Anne Frank Foundation in 1957 to preserve the house.
The museum opened in 1960 and has since undergone expansions and restorations to accommodate visitors while protecting the historical site.
Place Guide
The Secret Annex17th century (built 1635), used as hiding place 1942-1944
The concealed rear extension of the canal house where Anne Frank and seven others hid from 1942 to 1944. Visitors can see the original rooms, including Anne's bedroom, the attic where she wrote, and the hidden entrance behind a movable bookcase.
Permanent ExhibitionOpened 1960, updated continuously
Exhibition spaces in the adjacent buildings present Anne Frank's life story, the history of the Holocaust, and broader issues of persecution and discrimination worldwide.
Modern Museum Wing1997
A 1997 modern extension designed by Benthem Crouwel Architects, featuring a youth education center and facilities to accommodate visitors, including student housing above.
Contact
Phone: 020 556 7105
