Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam's most moving places. In this canal house on the Prinsengracht, 13-year-old Anne Frank, her family and four others hid from Nazi persecution for more than two years. It was here that Anne wrote the diary that became one of the most widely read books in the world.

Inside the house

Visitors follow a quiet, one-way route through the warehouse to the secret annex, hidden behind a movable bookcase, where the eight people in hiding lived in near-silence by day.

The rooms are kept bare, as they were left after the 1944 raid. Anne's original diary and personal belongings are shown alongside the wider story of the Holocaust and persecution. A full visit takes around two hours and is emotionally demanding.

Booking

This is the hardest ticket in Amsterdam. Tickets are sold only online at annefrank.org — never at the door — and are released in batches several weeks ahead, selling out within minutes; a smaller share is released on the day itself.

Book as far in advance as you can and arrive on time, as late entry may be refused. There is no re-entry once you've finished the route.

The diary’s survival owes much to Miep Gies, who helped support the people in hiding and kept Anne’s papers safe after their arrest. She later gave them to Otto Frank, who returned from the camps to learn that his wife and daughters had died. He worked to have Anne’s writing published. Knowing that history adds another dimension to the museum: it is also a story about the people who preserved her voice and brought it to readers.

After your visit, leave some room for a walk rather than rushing straight to another attraction. The neighbouring Westerkerk and Westermarkt place the museum within the everyday life of the city, while the Jordaan’s smaller streets offer a change of pace from the busy Prinsengracht. You can wander towards the Noordermarkt or find a café nearby. It is a gentle way to take in the neighbourhood while giving yourself time to reflect on what you have seen.