One such site which should not be missed while in Amsterdam, is the Anne Frank House. Although this part of the building, at address Prinsengracht 263, is now called the "Anne Frank House", it should be noted that this is not the place of the Frank family home or the house in which Anne Frank was born. This house or part of it is the place in which the Frank family went into hiding from the Nazis. This building was the location of Anne's father's business. Together with another family, the Franks hid in the annex of this building for over two years. The entrance to the annex was disguised by a bookcase which moved. Their place of concealment was unfortunately betrayed on August 4th, 1944 and those found hiding inside the annex were sent to concentration camps. Anne Frank died in the Bergen-Belsen camp of typhus, a few days after her sister. The sole survivor was Otto Frank, Anne's Father.



Following the war, when Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam, Anne's diary was found. He then worked towards its publication in 1947. Anne's diary contains entries from 12th June 1942 until 1st August 1944 and has since been published in several languages. The place of hiding has been turned into a museum which was opened in 1960. At this site, visitors can see the area in which the Frank family hid. Filming is not permitted inside the House itself. In addition, a center for visitors was created in the 1980's. There are historical documents, photographs and film images of the people who were in hiding on display. One can also see the original diary.

The museum is open from 9am until 7pm enabling travelers from all over the world ample time to visit the House. During the summer, the House is open until 9pm. Often a busy location, it is perhaps worthwhile to consider visiting in the late afternoon or early evening.

It should be noted that for the physically disabled, access to this site is difficult. People in wheelchairs or those who have difficulty walking may only access part of the House due to the steep stairs inside the building.

Chestnut Tree

There has been much recent talk and controversy surrounding the chestnut tree outside the Ann Frank House. This 150 year old tree is mentioned in Anne's diary as she was able to see the top of the branches through a small attic window and it represented hope to the young girl in hiding. The tree is now diseased and there are rulings concerning its felling. The tree has gained an additional reprieve and there are salvage plans around, such as to plant a cutting that has been taken from the original. In the meantime, the tree stands close to the Anne Frank House.

For people who wish to plan their trip to Amsterdam in advance, entrance tickets to the Anne Frank House may be purchased online. Vacation rooms may also be reserved via the Internet. Many of the hotels and hostels in Amsterdam are close to the top attractions and sites of the city.

Amsterdam is one of the top European destinations for travelers. A visit to the Anne Frank House takes approximately one hour and this site demonstrates the unbelievable life of a young girl and her family during the Nazi occupation. This location is well worth fitting into your Amsterdam schedule.