Anne Frank

A Sanctuary of Memory in the Canal District

Step into the heart of Amsterdam’s historic Canal District, where the city’s 17th-century architecture creates a timeless atmosphere. Here, you can visit the Anne Frank House, a profound site dedicated to the young girl who documented her life while in hiding from Nazi persecution. The museum is housed in the "Achterhuis," a secret annex located at the rear of a building on the Prinsengracht. This space served as a sanctuary for the Frank family and others from 1942 until their arrest by the Gestapo in 1944.

The Experience of the Secret Annex

As you enter the site, you are invited to explore the very rooms where Anne Frank spent her days. The museum provides a moving exhibition on her life and the reality of her circumstances, while also highlighting broader themes of discrimination and persecution. You will see the physical space that was concealed behind a bookcase to remain hidden from the outside world.

• Explore the multi-story space that functioned as a clandestine home during the German occupation.
• Walk through the rooms where Anne wrote her diary, which she began on her thirteenth birthday in a book she named "Kitty."
• Experience the atmosphere of a place where life was lived in shadows, supported by a small group of courageous "helpers" who provided food and news from the outside.

A Journey Through History

Visiting this site offers more than just a glimpse into one girl's life; it is an encounter with a global legacy. Anne’s diary, originally titled "The Secret Annex" in English, became one of the world's most discussed books after being published by her father, Otto Frank, in 1947. By visiting this location, you connect directly with the history of the Jewish population in Amsterdam and the enduring power of a voice that reached across the globe.