Anne Frank House | Amsterdam

Information

Landmark: Anne Frank House
City: Amsterdam
Country: Netherlands
Continent: Europe

Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Europe

The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum and historic site situated on the Prinsengracht canal in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. It preserves the 17th-century canal house where Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid from Nazi persecution during World War II.

Visual Characteristics

The landmark consists of two distinct parts: the original 1635 canal house (the "Oudezijds") and a modern 1990s reception wing. The historic section features a traditional narrow brick facade with dark green shutters and a gabled roof. Inside, the Secret Annex (Achterhuis) is characterized by cramped, windowless spaces with bare walls, preserved in their original state without furniture, as per Otto Frank's request.

Location & Access Logistics

The museum is located at Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam. It is accessible from Amsterdam Centraal station via Trams 13 or 17 (Westermarkt stop) or a 20-minute walk. There is no dedicated parking; the nearest commercial garage is Q-Park Europarking, located 1 kilometer away. Entry is strictly restricted to pre-booked ticket holders via the modern entrance on Westermarkt.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The building served as an Opekta warehouse and office space before the Frank family entered hiding in the rear annex in July 1942. The museum was established by the Anne Frank Foundation on May 3, 1960, to prevent the building's demolition and to educate the public on the dangers of anti-Semitism and discrimination.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors follow a chronological route through the warehouse and offices into the Secret Annex via the original movable bookcase that concealed the entrance. Key artifacts on display include Anne Frank’s original red-checked diary and the world maps used by Otto Frank to track Allied progress. Guided educational programs are available for groups by appointment.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility includes a museum café, a bookstore, and a cloakroom for small items. Public restrooms are available in the modern wing. High-speed 5G cellular signal is available, though phone use is prohibited inside the museum. The historic annex is not wheelchair accessible due to steep, narrow staircases, but the modern wing and museum displays are accessible via elevators.

Best Time to Visit

Tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM CET for visits six weeks in advance and sell out immediately. Evening slots (after 6:00 PM) typically offer a quieter environment. The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and visiting during the winter months (November–February) reduces ambient crowd density in the surrounding area.

Facts & Legends

The movable bookcase that hid the entrance to the Secret Annex was constructed by Johan Voskuijl, the warehouse manager, in August 1942. A verified historical oddity is that the original diary was nearly lost when the Gestapo emptied Anne's briefcase to store looted valuables; it was saved by Miep Gies, who kept it unread in a desk drawer until the war ended.