Discover the rich history of the Anne Frank House

Anne Frank was born Annelies Marie Frank on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, to Otto and Edith Frank. Her early childhood was marked by a peaceful Jewish life. However, the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany in the early 1930s encouraged the family to immigrate to Amsterdam, seeking safety and a new beginning. For her 13th birthday, weeks before going into hiding, Anne received a diary, which would become her legacy. She filled its pages with observations about her daily life, her relationships, and her thoughts and feelings. This diary became the primary record of her experiences in the Secret Annex.

The building at Prinsengracht 263 was originally constructed in 1635. By the 1940s, it housed the offices and warehouse of Opekta, a company selling pectin for making jam, run by Otto Frank, Anne's father. The building included a front house and a rear annex, which was hidden from street view by other structures. The Frank family initially lived in an apartment at Merwedeplein after fleeing Germany in 1933 due to rising Nazi persecution. They led a relatively normal life until the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940 intensified anti-Jewish measures.

On July 6, 1942, following a call-up for Anne's sister Margot to a labor camp, the Frank family went into hiding in the Secret Annex, a concealed space within Otto Frank's business premises. They were later joined by the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer, totaling eight people. For over two years, they lived in cramped conditions, relying on a few helpers who smuggled in food, supplies, and news from the outside world. This period is famously documented in Anne Frank's diary, where she chronicled their fears, hopes, and daily life in hiding.

On August 4, 1944, the Secret Annex was raided by the Gestapo, and all eight occupants were arrested and deported to concentration camps. Only Otto Frank survived. After the war, the building fell into disrepair. The Secret Annex was left empty, as per Otto Frank's wishes, to convey the sense of loss and the absence of those who died. In the early 1950s, the building was even slated for demolition as part of an urban renewal project, highlighting the immediate post-war period's focus on rebuilding rather than preservation of such sites.

As Anne Frank's diary gained international recognition after its publication in 1947, public interest in her hiding place grew. A campaign was launched by Dutch citizens and prominent figures to save the building from demolition. In 1957, the Anne Frank Foundation was established with Otto Frank's involvement, dedicated to preserving the building and promoting Anne's ideals. The building was restored, and on May 3, 1960, the Anne Frank House officially opened as a museum, welcoming visitors to experience the poignant history of the Secret Annex.

Since its opening, the Anne Frank House has continuously evolved to accommodate increasing visitors and enhance the educational experience. It has undergone several renovations, including significant expansions in 1999 and more recently, to improve visitor flow, provide more historical context, and create additional space for educational programs. The museum remains committed to preserving the authenticity of the Secret Annex while using Anne's story to combat antisemitism, racism, and discrimination worldwide.