Bucket list experience:
Credit Shutterstock.com/Valeri Potapova
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.
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Destination Guide >The Anne Frank House is set on the Prinsengracht Canal; the nearest tram/bus stop is Westermarkt, though the house is within walking distance of most points in the centre. Visits to the house are self-guided. Exhibits are well labelled.
Note that there is nowhere to store bags, and you won’t be allowed in with anything bigger than a smallish backpack.
The best time to visit is in the evening, when entry queues are shorter and the house is less crowded. Avoid peak times if possible – mid-morning to mid-afternoon and weekends – when it’ll be extremely crowded inside and the queue snakes around the streets outside.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands[0.2 miles]
An intimate hotel in historic canal-facing buildings, with stylishly updated interiors. One of the trendiest places to stay in Amsterdam.
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Contemporary luxury, location and historical charm all meet in this five-star canal-front property, steps from the Nine Streets and the character-filled Jordaan district.
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A cool, retro design complements the historical character of this wonderful, affordable canal-side bolthole.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
North Holland, Netherlands
Picturesque Golden Age canals, premier league art, cosy cafés, and liberal urban living combine to make Amsterdam one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals.
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