"I want to go on living even after my death. And therefore I am grateful to God for giving me this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me."
— From the diary, written in hiding, April 1944
Anne Frank House Amsterdam Visitor Guide
An independent guide to the museum at Prinsengracht 263 — the building where eight Jewish residents lived in concealment for over two years during the German occupation of the Netherlands, and where a young girl wrote the diary that would move the world.
The House on the Canal: A History
How an ordinary Amsterdam merchant building became one of the world's most significant memorial sites.
From Trading House to Museum
The narrow brick building at Prinsengracht 263 was constructed in 1635 during Amsterdam's Golden Age — one of thousands of canal houses that still define the city's historic centre. For most of its existence it served as a warehouse and office space, part of the busy commercial network that ran along Amsterdam's ring of canals.
In the 1930s, the building became the registered premises of a trading company dealing in pectin and spices. The company's director had fled Frankfurt with his family in 1933 following the rise of National Socialism in Germany. For several years the family built a normal life in Amsterdam. Then, in May 1940, German forces invaded and occupied the Netherlands, and life for Jewish residents changed irrevocably.
Within two years, persecution had reached a point where the family saw no option but to disappear from public life. The director converted the rear portion of the building — unused storage space above the warehouse — into a concealed hiding place. In July 1942, eight people stepped through a disguised door and began an existence unlike any other: two years of silence, secrecy, and sustained courage in the heart of an occupied city.
"Our many Jewish friends are being taken away by the dozen. These people are treated by the Gestapo without a shred of decency, being loaded into cattle cars and sent to Westerbork."
The Site Today
After the war, the building was under threat of demolition. A campaign led by survivors and supported by Amsterdam citizens saved it. In 1960, the Anne Frank House opened as a museum and educational foundation. It has since become one of the most visited historical sites in Europe, receiving over a million visitors per year from across the world.
House built at Prinsengracht 263, Amsterdam
The Frank family relocates from Frankfurt to Amsterdam
Germany invades the Netherlands on 10 May 1940
Eight people enter the Secret Annex on 6 July 1942
The hiding place is betrayed on 4 August; all eight are deported
Netherlands liberated; one of the eight survives the war
The diary published in Dutch as Het Achterhuis
Anne Frank House opens to the public
Life Inside the Secret Annex
A space of approximately 50 square metres, hidden behind a moveable bookcase, was home to eight people for 761 days.
- The fatherDirector of the trading company; the sole survivor of the eight after the war.
- The motherDied at Auschwitz-Birkenau, January 1945.
- The eldest daughterDied at Bergen-Belsen, February or March 1945.
- The youngest daughterAuthor of the diary. Died at Bergen-Belsen, February or March 1945, weeks before liberation.
- Hermann van PelsBusiness partner of the father. Killed at Auschwitz.
- Auguste van PelsWife of Hermann. Died in the camps.
- Peter van PelsSon of Hermann and Auguste. Died at Mauthausen, May 1945.
- Fritz PfefferDentist. Died at Neuengamme, December 1944.
- Miep GiesOffice worker; the primary helper who later found and preserved the diary pages.
- Bep VoskuijlSecretary who helped with supplies and news.
- Jan GiesHusband of Miep; helped with food and contacts.
- Victor KuglerCompany director who helped manage the hidden living quarters.
- Johannes KleimanBusiness manager who organised practical support for the hiding group.
The Hidden Rooms
The Secret Annex — called het Achterhuis in Dutch, literally "the house at the back" — consisted of a series of rooms on the third and fourth floors of the rear section of the building, accessible through a hidden door concealed behind a swinging bookcase on the second-floor landing.
The space comprised a kitchen and living room, a shared bedroom for two adults, a room shared by the youngest daughter and a dentist, a room for a couple and their teenage son, and a shared bathroom and toilet. Eight people lived here in near-complete silence during working hours, forbidden to run water, flush the toilet, or move too heavily while the warehouse workers below were present.
"We have been pointedly reminded that we are in hiding, that we are Jews in chains, chained to one spot, without any rights, but with a thousand duties."
The rooms are preserved largely as they were found after the war. The furniture was removed after the arrest in August 1944, but the space retains its physical proportions, the maps pinned to one wall, and the original bookcase entrance. Visitors today walk through that same bookcase to enter the Annex, crossing the threshold that was crossed in secrecy in 1942.
The Arrest
On 4 August 1944, members of the German Security Police and Dutch collaborators entered the building. The tip-off that led to the arrest has never been definitively established. All eight people in hiding were taken, along with two of the helpers. They were transported to Westerbork transit camp, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau by the last deportation train to leave the Netherlands. Of the eight, only one — the father — survived.
The Diary: A Voice That Outlasted the War
Written in notebooks and on loose pages of paper, it is now one of the most widely read personal testimonies of the twentieth century.
From Scattered Pages to World Literature
The diary was kept from June 1942, beginning before the family went into hiding, and continued until three days before the arrest in August 1944. It was written in two notebooks and on loose sheets, addressed to a series of imaginary friends and correspondents — with the name "Kitty" used most consistently. It was both a record of daily life and an interior examination of identity, family, loneliness, ambition, and hope.
After the arrest, the pages were scattered on the floor of the Annex. Miep Gies, one of the helpers, gathered them and stored them without reading them, intending to return them after the war. When the father returned from Auschwitz as the only survivor, she handed them to him. After much hesitation, he edited and compiled the diary, and in June 1947 it was published in a small Dutch edition under the title Het Achterhuis — The Secret Annex.
The book's reception was initially modest. But over the following decade it spread internationally: first to Germany and France, then to the United Kingdom and the United States, eventually to the entire world. It has now been translated into more than 70 languages and has sold over 30 million copies. In 2009, the original manuscripts were inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death."
This sentence, written in July 1944 — less than a month before the arrest — has become one of the most quoted lines in modern literature. It encapsulates both the impossible difficulty of the diary's circumstances and the persistence of its author's spirit within them.
Planning Your Visit
Practical information for visiting the Anne Frank House — location, opening times, booking, and what to expect on arrival.
Location & Getting There
Prinsengracht 263–267, AmsterdamThe museum is in the Jordaan neighbourhood of central Amsterdam, one of the city's most historic districts. By tram: lines 13 and 17 stop at Westermarkt, a two-minute walk from the entrance. By bicycle: ample cycling routes lead directly to the Prinsengracht. Limited street parking is available nearby but cycling is strongly recommended in this part of the city.
Opening Hours
Open daily — hours vary by seasonThe museum is generally open daily from 09:00 to 22:00. Hours vary by season and may be reduced on Jewish holidays or during special events. Always confirm the exact opening times on the official Anne Frank House website before your visit. The museum does not offer a last-entry walk-in option — timed entry is mandatory.
Duration & What to Expect
Allow 60 to 90 minutesMost visitors spend between 60 and 90 minutes inside the museum. The route is self-guided and includes the original rooms of the Secret Annex, multimedia exhibitions on the history of the persecution and concealment, and contextual displays on the diary and its legacy. An audio guide is included with admission. There is no café on site.
Accessibility
Due to the historic character of the building, the Secret Annex can only be accessed via steep, narrow staircases. There is no elevator access to the Annex itself. The ground floor areas and the main multimedia exhibitions are accessible to visitors with limited mobility. Contact the museum directly for specific accessibility arrangements before your visit.
Ticket Prices and Booking Information
All prices shown are approximate reference figures. Verify current pricing on the official museum website before booking.
| Visitor Category | Approx. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AdultAges 18 and over | €16 | Standard admission. Online advance booking mandatory — walk-in tickets are rarely available. |
| YouthAges 10 to 17 | €8 | Reduced admission for young visitors. Proof of age may be required. |
| ChildrenAges 0 to 9 | Free | Free entry, but must be pre-booked online along with accompanying adult tickets. |
| Museumkaart HoldersDutch museum pass | Free | A valid Museumkaart grants free admission. Timed-entry slot must still be booked online. |
| I Amsterdam City CardCity visitor pass | Free | Card includes free admission. Advance booking of a timed-entry slot is required. |
* All prices are approximate informational estimates for reference only. Actual prices are set and may be changed at any time by the Anne Frank House. This website does not sell tickets.
Online Booking Only
Tickets are sold exclusively through the official museum website. Walk-in tickets are rarely available. The museum frequently sells out weeks or months in advance during peak periods.
Timed Entry
All visitors — including pass holders — must book a specific timed-entry slot. Late arrival may result in denied entry. Download your confirmation before arriving as connectivity near the entrance can be limited.
Audio Guide Included
The audio guide is included in the admission price. It is available in multiple languages and is strongly recommended for understanding the context of each room and exhibit in the museum.
Visitor Tips: Making the Most of Your Visit
Practical advice gathered from common visitor experiences to help you plan a meaningful and well-prepared trip.
Book as Early as Possible
The Anne Frank House is among the most visited museums in the Netherlands. Tickets sell out weeks — and during summer and school holidays, months — in advance. Book your timed-entry slot the moment your travel dates are confirmed.
Arrive at Least 10 Minutes Early
Timed-entry slots are strictly enforced. If you arrive after your window, entry may be refused without refund. Download your confirmation ticket offline — mobile signal near the entrance can be unreliable during busy periods.
Prepare Yourself Emotionally
The experience of walking through the original rooms — particularly the preserved Annex — is powerful and sobering. Many visitors find the visit more affecting than they anticipated. Take time before and after to process the experience.
No Photography in the Annex Rooms
Photography is not permitted inside the Secret Annex rooms out of respect for the site and for other visitors. Photography may be allowed in certain areas of the public exhibition outside the Annex.
Use the Included Audio Guide
The audio guide is included in the ticket price and is available in multiple languages. It provides essential context for each room and significantly enriches understanding of the history, the people, and the significance of what you are seeing.
Explore the Jordaan After Your Visit
The Jordaan neighbourhood surrounding the museum is one of Amsterdam's finest. Walk along the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht canals, visit the adjacent Westerkerk, and explore the independent shops and cafés in this historic district.
Useful Visitor Information
Getting to Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: 15–20 min by train to Amsterdam Centraal
- Amsterdam Centraal to Prinsengracht: tram 13 or 17, approx. 15 min
- Taxis and rideshare services available from the airport
- Intercity trains from Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht: approx. 45 min
Nearby Sites of Interest
- Westerkerk Church — immediately adjacent
- Rijksmuseum — 20 min by bicycle
- Van Gogh Museum — 20 min by bicycle
- Jewish Historical Museum — 25 min on foot
- Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum)
- Amsterdam Museum — city history
- Hortus Botanicus botanical garden
Before You Go
- Confirm current opening hours at annefrank.org
- Verify ticket prices directly with the museum
- Check Museumkaart eligibility if applicable
- Review the museum's accessibility information
- Read the diary before visiting for deeper context
- Allow extra time — the experience tends to last longer than planned
Independent Information Resource
annefrench.site is an independent visitor information website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Anne Frank Stichting (Anne Frank House museum), the Anne Frank Fonds, or any other official organisation connected to the house at Prinsengracht 263, Amsterdam. All references to historical events and persons are provided in an educational and informational context only.
Accuracy & Disclaimer
Ticket prices, opening hours, and visitor conditions displayed on this site are approximate estimates for informational reference and may not reflect current figures. This website does not sell tickets, take bookings, or handle financial transactions. Always verify all practical information directly with the official museum at annefrank.org before travelling. See our full Disclaimer.
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Have a Question About Your Visit?
We provide general visitor information about the Anne Frank House. For ticket purchases and booking, please visit the official museum website directly.