Anne Frank House

Just after Amsterdam resident Anne Frank’s 13th birthday in 1942, she and her family went into hiding to escape Jewish persecution under the Nazis. They lived hidden away in a cramped annexe for two years, until they were betrayed and transported to concentration camps. Only Anne’s father Otto survived.

During their period of hiding in Amsterdam, Anne Frank kept a remarkable diary, given to her as a 13th birthday present by her father. After the war, Otto Frank managed to retrieve his daughter’s diary and find a willing publisher. The book became an international sensation.

The house – with cramped annexe – is now Amsterdam’s most popular museum, with Anne’s original red-checked diary on display, alongside the notebooks in which she wrote short stories and quotations. A new exhibition, ‘A Room Full of Dreams’ displays the pictures and postcards she stuck on her bedroom walls.

The museum also offers a special 30-minute programme for those who want an introduction to the story of Anne Frank.

It’s a poignant, moving experience, and an Amsterdam must-see.