Contents

About Anne Frank Museum

The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. During World War II, Anne Frank, a Jewish girl, wrote her diary,

Also Known As

Anne Frank Museum

Founded On

1960

AmsterdamAnne Frank ToursAnne Frank Museum

Quick information

ADDRESS

Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands

RECOMMENDED DURATION

1 hour

Timings

9am–10pm

VISITORS PER YEAR

1300000

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

2+ hours (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Plan your visit

Did you know?

There are no furnishings or furniture in the Anne Frank House. Otto Frank wanted to preserve the rooms as they were after the Nazis took away everything during the war.

After Anne and her family were forced to further isolate, she ceased writing in her red checkered diary and instead wrote on a scratchpad, the pages of which are on display today.

Researchers examine the notebooks from Anne’s diary every 10 years to look for missing pages.

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Anne Frank Story and World War II Walking Tour
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Anne Frank Guided Walking Tour
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Guided Anne Frank Walking Tour with Entry to Jewish Museum & Synagogue
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What is the Anne Frank House?

The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum dedicated to Anne Frank.

Located on a canal called the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, it is here that Anne Frank and her family lived for almost two years while hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Now converted into a museum, the Anne Frank House contains personal belongings of those who were in hiding, as well as exhibitions about the persecution of the Jews during the war.

One of the most visited sites in the Netherlands, the Anne Frank House stands as a reminder of the unfathomable harm that discrimination and racism can bring about.

Anne Frank Museum
Anne Frank Museum

Life in the secret annex

Anne Frank and her family lived in the secret annex of her father’s office building with four others for almost two years. During the day, they had to stay extremely quiet so workers downstairs couldn’t hear them. They could only talk at night and on weekends without whispering or even flushing the toilet. Much of the day was devoted to reading, studying, and preparing for their meals. 

After the warehouse workers went home, the people hiding would spread out through the building. When the sun went down, the windows had to be blacked out, and it would be quiet at the annex again.

This hiding place continues to be preserved by the Anne Frank Museum. 

What to explore at the Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House opened to the public on May 3, 1960, as a way to bring attention to her life and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination. Visiting the museum will allow you to experience the story of Anne Frank through the quotes, photos, and personal belongings of those who lived there in hiding.

Anne Frank Museum room

Anne Frank’s room

She had to share the room with Fritz Pfeffer, a man old enough to be her father, with the tiny space divided down the middle for each one’s bed. Having to live in close quarters often led to tensions. One of their main conflicts was when they got to the writing desk. Her diary was her confidant through it all. To brighten up the room, Anne put up pictures on the wall.

Anne Frank Museum collection

Anne Frank collection

The house, which was emptied of all furniture, remains unfurnished as requested by Otto Frank, Anne’s father. The Anne Frank Museum has been collecting items connected to Anne Frank’s history. You can view the traces and personal objects of the people who hid here, such as the height marks of Anne and Margot Frank, drawings by Anne, photographs, and more.

Anne Frank Museum Diary

The Diary Room

The original diary is on display at the Anne Frank House. The rewritten version of Anne Frank’s Diary, the ‘Favourite Quotes Book,’ in which Anne copied quotes she liked, and her ‘Tales Book’ with short stories she had thought of are also on display.

Anne Frank Museum Exhibition

Exhibitions

View the exhibition ‘a history for today,' which tells the story of Anne Frank against the background of the Holocaust and the Second World War. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog, a DVD, and a handbook for guides that visitors can take home.

Plan your visit to the Anne Frank House

Timings
Getting there
Cafe
Shop
Free audio tour
Nearby
Anne Frank Museum Timings

The museum is open daily from 9am to 10pm. 

Exceptions to the opening hours: The museum is open from 12pm to 10pm on January 1, and from 9am to 5pm on April 27, May 4, December 25, and December 31. 

Closed: The museum is closed on Yom Kippur (October 12).

Duration: A visit to the Anne Frank House takes about 1 hour. 

Best time to visit the Anne Frank Museum:

  • To avoid crowds, visit Amsterdam between April and May or September and October. 
  • Weekdays are better to visit the Anne Frank House, as the waiting time would be shorter. 

Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands

Find on Map

  • By bus: 21, 22, 347, 357, and 397 will take you to Anne Frank House. The closest bus stop is Westermarkt, which is 3 minutes away.
  • By train: train lines IC, ICD, and SPR will stop near Anne Frank’s House. It is a 20-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station.
  • By tram: Take tram 13 or 17 and get off at the Westermarkt stop, about a minute’s walk away.
  • By metro: Take metro line 52, which starts from Noord metro station.
Anne Frank Museum cafe

Unwind at the Anne Frank House Museum Cafe after your tour. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Prinsengracht along with your meal. They offer a wide range of beverages, lunch, and snack options. The cafe can only be accessed through the museum.

Anne Frank Museum Shop

Buy The Diary of Anne Frank, the museum catalog, postcards, or other publications. All proceeds from the purchase go towards conserving the Anne Frank Museum and its educational activities.

The museum shop has the same opening hours as the museum and can only be accessed through the museum. The items sold in the museum shop are also available online.

Anne Frank Museum Audio Tour

The museum offers a free audio tour. It offers visitors historical context and in-depth information about the persecution of the Jews, the Second World War, Anne Frank's life, their experience in hiding, and more. The audio tour is available in nine languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Anne Frank Museum Nearby
  • The Amsterdam Tulip Museum: Walk through the history of tulips with a collection of curated photographs, videos, and beautifully designed scenes.
  • Canal Cruise: Traverse the city's famed canals and learn about the city's historic past and culture.
  • Rijksmuseum: Visit Rijksmuseum, the largest art museum in the country, home to over 8000 unique art objects.
  • Van Gogh Museum: Visit the famous Van Gogh Museum, which houses a large collection of paintings and drawings by Van Gogh.
  • Vondel Park: Enjoy a picnic at the largest city park. It has an open-air theatre, a rollerblade rental, a rose garden, and several cafes.

Rules & regulations

  • Arrive at least 15 minutes early. You will not be allowed inside if you are late or miss your window.
  • Unfortunately, the old part of the museum and the secret annex are inaccessible to people using wheelchairs. They would, however, have access to the modern part of the museum. 
  • Photography is not allowed in the museum to protect the museum’s original items and to avoid causing a nuisance to other visitors.
  • Only bank or credit card payments can be made in the museum, museum cafe, and museum shop.
  • They have a cloakroom to leave your coat, bag, or umbrella. Only bags smaller than an A4 sheet of paper can be carried inside. Leave your large bags at the hotel, or deposit them at the Amsterdam Central Station.
  • Visitors are not permitted to smoke in the museum complex.
  • Those under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or similar substances will be denied admission.
  • Children under 12 may only visit the museum if accompanied by an adult.
  • Food and drinks cannot be brought into the museum complex, and refreshments purchased in the museum café cannot be consumed outside that designated area.

Virtual tour of the Anne Frank House

Virtual reality: Use the ‘Anne Frank House VR’ app to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family. Unlike in reality, in the VR app, all of the rooms in the secret annex are furnished according to how they were when occupied by the group in hiding between 1942 and 1944.

360-degree view: In 2004, housing cooperation Ymere, in collaboration with the Anne Frank House, restored the Anne Frank family house to its original 1930s style. After careful research, furniture was selected that could have been used by the Frank family. The house now acts as a writer’s house for refugee writers. 

3D version: For those unable to visit the museum, the Anne Frank House has created the Secret Annex online, a 3D version of the hiding place. Available for viewing on the official website, you can view all the rooms in the Secret Annex and read interesting tidbits about life in hiding. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Anne Frank House

How long can you stay inside the Anne Frank Museum?

While your starting time is fixed as per the slot on your ticket, you can stay for as long as you like.

Can you take pictures inside the Anne Frank Museum?

No, photography is not allowed in the Anne Frank Museum to protect the museum’s original items and to avoid causing a nuisance to other visitors.

Is there a cloakroom in the Anne Frank Museum?

Yes. However, they don’t have the room to store large bags, backpacks, or suitcases.

Is the Anne Frank Museum wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, only the modern part of the museum is accessible to people using wheelchairs.

Is there a recommended age for visiting the Anne Frank House?

The Anne Frank House is suitable for visitors of all ages, but the content may be particularly impactful for older children and adults. It’s recommended that parents discuss the visit with younger children beforehand.

What should I wear when visiting the Anne Frank House?

There is no formal dress code, but it’s recommended that you wear comfortable clothing and shoes, as you’ll be walking through historic and sometimes narrow spaces.

Is the Anne Frank House experience suitable for non-English speakers?

Yes, the Anne Frank House provides information and audio guides in multiple languages, including Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, making the experience accessible to international visitors.

Can I visit the Anne Frank House with a group?

Group visits are possible, but due to space limitations, booking group tickets in advance is essential. Large groups may need to split into smaller ones to maintain the flow of visitors.

What makes the Anne Frank House unique compared to other Holocaust memorials?

The Anne Frank House is unique because it is the actual place where Anne Frank lived and wrote her diary, offering an intimate and personal connection to her story and the horrors of the Holocaust.

Can I re-enter the Anne Frank House on the same day with my ticket?

No, tickets are for single entry only, so it’s best to plan your visit accordingly to ensure you see everything you want in one go.