Learn About Anne Frank House | Museum Guide and Insights

Quick Information

ADDRESS

Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands

RECOMMENDED DURATION

1 hour

Timings

09:00–22:00

VISITORS PER YEAR

1300000

TICKETS

From $14.05

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

2+ hours (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

There are no furnishings or furniture in the Anne Frank House. Otto Frank wanted to preserve the rooms as they were after the Nazis took away everything during the war.

After Anne and her family were forced to further isolate, she ceased writing in her red checkered diary and instead wrote on a scratchpad, the pages of which are on display today.

Researchers examine the notebooks from Anne’s diary every 10 years to look for missing pages.

Book Anne Frank tours

Anne Frank Story and World War II Walking Tour

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1 hr. 30 min. - 2 hr.

Guided tour

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Life of Anne Frank and Neighborhood - Small-Group Walking Tour

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1 hr. 30 min.

Guided tour

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Combo (Save 23%): Anne Frank Walking Tour + 1-Hour Canal Cruise Tickets

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Audio guide

Guided tour

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Anne Frank Walking Tour with Entry to Jewish Museum & Synagogue

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3 hr.

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What is the Anne Frank House?

The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum dedicated to Anne Frank.

Located on a canal called the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, it is here that Anne Frank and her family lived for almost two years while hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Now converted into a museum, the Anne Frank House contains personal belongings of those who were in hiding, as well as exhibitions about the persecution of the Jews during the war.

One of the most visited sites in the Netherlands, the Anne Frank House stands as a reminder of the unfathomable harm that discrimination and racism can bring about.

Why the Anne Frank House is a must-visit attraction

A somber and authentic journey: Visiting the Anne Frank House is a deeply moving and sobering experience about the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Netherlands.
Walk through history: You enter the very rooms of the "Secret Annex" where Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid from Nazi persecution. The cramped, confined spaces immediately convey the immense pressure and fear they lived under.
Tangible connection to a life: Seeing the original bookcase that concealed their hiding place, and ascending the steep, narrow stairs, provides a connection to their daily struggle for survival.
Anne's enduring voice: The museum serves as a powerful testament to Anne Frank's life, allowing visitors to connect with her thoughts and feelings as documented in her diary. It highlights the stark contrast between her vibrant inner world and the bleak reality of her existence.
A powerful reminder: This experience is a crucial reminder of the human cost of intolerance and persecution. It underscores the importance of fighting prejudice and upholding human dignity, leaving a lasting impact on visitors.

Who was Anne Frank

A German-Dutch diarist of Jewish heritage, Anne Frank moved to Amsterdam with her family in 1933.

In 1942, she, along with her family, went into hiding when Jewish deportations from Holland began. She was only 13 at the time. For two years, the Frank family, along with four others, lived in hiding until they were discovered by the Gestapo in 1944 and sent to concentration camps.

In November 1944, Anne arrived with her sister Margot in Bergen-Belsen, where she fell ill and died of typhus in March 1945.

More about Anne Frank's life

Life in the Secret Annex

Anne Frank and her family lived in the secret annex of her father’s office building with four others for almost two years. During the day, they had to stay extremely quiet so workers downstairs couldn’t hear them. They could only talk at night and on weekends without whispering or even flushing the toilet. Much of the day was devoted to reading, studying, and preparing for their meals.

After the warehouse workers went home, the people hiding would spread out through the building. When the sun went down, the windows had to be blacked out, and it would be quiet at the annex again.

This hiding place continues to be preserved by the Anne Frank Museum.

What to see at the Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House opened to the public on May 3, 1960, as a way to bring attention to her life and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination. Visiting the museum will allow you to experience the story of Anne Frank through the quotes, photos, and personal belongings of those who lived there in hiding.

Anne Frank’s room

She had to share the room with Fritz Pfeffer, a man old enough to be her father, with the tiny space divided down the middle for each one’s bed. Having to live in close quarters often led to tensions. One of their main conflicts was when they got to the writing desk. Her diary was her confidant through it all. To brighten up the room, Anne put up pictures on the wall.

Anne Frank collection

The house, which was emptied of all furniture, remains unfurnished as requested by Otto Frank, Anne’s father. The Anne Frank Museum has been collecting items connected to Anne Frank’s history. You can view the traces and personal objects of the people who hid here, such as the height marks of Anne and Margot Frank, drawings by Anne, photographs, and more.

The Diary Room

The original diary is on display at the Anne Frank House. The rewritten version of Anne Frank’s Diary, the ‘Favourite Quotes Book,’ in which Anne copied quotes she liked, and her ‘Tales Book’ with short stories she had thought of, are also on display.

Exhibitions

View the international travelling exhibition, A History For Today, which tells the story of Anne Frank against the background of the Holocaust and the Second World War. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog, a DVD, and a handbook for guides that visitors can take home.

Brief history of the Anne Frank House

1635: The canal house at Prinsengracht 263, where the Secret Annex is located, was originally built.
1940: Otto Frank, Anne's father, rented the entire building for his pectin and spice company, Opekta and Pectacon.
May 1940: Germany invades the Netherlands, initiating the systematic persecution of Jewish people, including new anti-Jewish decrees that increasingly restrict their lives.
July 6, 1942: With the situation for Jews in Amsterdam becoming increasingly perilous due to escalating deportations, the Frank family (Otto, Edith, Margot, and Anne) goes into hiding in the "Secret Annex" – the concealed rear section of the building. They are soon joined by Hermann and Auguste van Pels and their son Peter, and later by Fritz Pfeffer.
August 4, 1944: After 761 days in hiding, the eight occupants of the Secret Annex are discovered by Nazi authorities, arrested, and subsequently deported to various concentration camps.
March 1945: Anne Frank dies in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, likely from typhus, just weeks before the camp's liberation.
June 1945: Otto Frank, the only survivor from the Secret Annex, returned to Amsterdam. Miep Gies, one of the helpers, had saved Anne's diary, which she gave to Otto.
1947: Anne's diary is first published in Dutch under the title "Het Achterhuis" (The Secret Annex). Its powerful narrative quickly gains international recognition.
1950s: The building faced demolition threats from a textile factory. Public outcry and a campaign by prominent citizens fought to save it.
May 3, 1957: The Anne Frank Foundation was established with the primary goal of preserving the hiding place and opening it to the public.
May 3, 1960: The Anne Frank House officially opened as a museum, with the Secret Annex left empty as per Otto Frank's wishes, to emphasize the void left by those who died.
1999: The museum underwent a major renovation and expansion, officially reopened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
2018: A major renewal project is completed, enhancing the visitor experience with a new entrance and exhibition spaces, while preserving the authenticity of the hiding place itself.

Architecture of the Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House, located at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam, is a great example of 17th-century Dutch canal house architecture. Key architectural features include its narrow, deep structure, characteristic of canal houses built on waterfront plots. The building initially consisted of a main front house and a separate, more secluded annex at the rear. This annex, which would later become the "Secret Annex," was expanded around 1740.

Typical of the era, the building has a gabled facade (though not visible from the street due to later modifications), large windows to maximize light, and steep staircases to save space. The integration of residential and commercial functions within the same building was common for merchants in the 17th century.

Additional information about the Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House holds global significance beyond its historical context. While the house itself is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located within the 17th-century Canal Ring area of Amsterdam, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition, Anne Frank's original diary manuscripts were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2009. The diary is of global importance as a documentary heritage, recognized for its powerful message and role in understanding a critical period of human history. The museum actively uses Anne's story to educate visitors on the dangers of discrimination and prejudice, promoting human rights and tolerance worldwide.

Virtual tour of the Anne Frank House

Virtual reality: Use the ‘Anne Frank House VR’ app to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family. Unlike in reality, in the VR app, all of the rooms in the secret annex are furnished according to how they were when occupied by the group in hiding between 1942 and 1944.

360-degree view: In 2004, housing corporation Ymere, in collaboration with the Anne Frank House, restored the previous family house at Merwedeplein 37-II, where the Frank family lived before they went into hiding, to its original 1930s style. After careful research, furniture was selected that could have been used by the Frank family. The house now acts as a writer’s house for refugee writers.

3D version: For those unable to visit the museum, the Anne Frank House has created the Secret Annex online, a 3D version of the hiding place. Available for viewing on the official website, you can view all the rooms in the Secret Annex and read interesting tidbits about life in hiding.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Anne Frank House

How long can you stay inside the Anne Frank Museum?

While your starting time is fixed as per the slot on your ticket, you can stay for as long as you like.

Can you take pictures inside the Anne Frank Museum?

No, photography is not allowed in the Anne Frank Museum to protect the museum’s original items and to avoid causing a nuisance to other visitors.

Is there a cloakroom in the Anne Frank Museum?

Yes. However, they don’t have the room to store large bags, backpacks, or suitcases.

Is the Anne Frank Museum wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, only the modern part of the museum is accessible to people using wheelchairs.

Is there a recommended age for visiting the Anne Frank House?

The Anne Frank House is suitable for visitors of all ages, but the content may be particularly impactful for older children and adults. It’s recommended that parents discuss the visit with younger children beforehand.

What should I wear when visiting the Anne Frank House?

There is no formal dress code, but it’s recommended that you wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as you’ll be walking through historic and sometimes narrow spaces.

Is the Anne Frank House experience suitable for non-English speakers?

Yes, the Anne Frank House provides information and audio guides in multiple languages, including Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, making the experience accessible to international visitors.

Can I visit the Anne Frank House with a group?

Group visits are possible, but due to space limitations, booking group tickets in advance is essential. Large groups may need to split into smaller ones to maintain the flow of visitors.

What makes the Anne Frank House unique compared to other Holocaust memorials?

The Anne Frank House is unique because it is the actual place where Anne Frank lived and wrote her diary, offering an intimate and personal connection to her story and the horrors of the Holocaust.

Can I re-enter the Anne Frank House on the same day with my ticket?

No, tickets are for single entry only, so it’s best to plan your visit accordingly to ensure you see everything you want in one go.