The Secret Annex
The Anne Frank House at Prinsengracht 263 is the building where Anne Frank, her family, and four other Jewish people hid from Nazi persecution for over two years (July 1942 to August 1944) in a concealed annex behind a movable bookcase. The diary Anne kept during this period — published after the war by her father Otto Frank, the annex’s sole survivor — has become one of the most widely read books in history (over 30 million copies, translated into over 70 languages) and one of the most powerful personal testimonies of the Holocaust.
The museum preserves the annex itself — the rooms where the eight inhabitants lived in enforced silence during the day (the warehouse workers below could not know they were there), the bookcase that concealed the entrance, the steep staircase, and the windows that were permanently covered. The rooms are now empty (Otto Frank chose not to furnish them, creating an emptiness that is itself a statement), but Anne’s photographs and postcards remain on her bedroom wall, and the pencil marks recording the children’s growth are visible on the doorframe.
A visit to the Anne Frank House is the most emotionally significant museum experience in Amsterdam and one of the most important Holocaust memorial sites in Europe.
Visiting the Anne Frank House
Tickets must be booked online in advance. The Anne Frank House does not sell walk-up tickets. Timed-entry tickets are released online approximately 6 weeks in advance and sell out rapidly — particularly in peak season. Set a calendar reminder for the release date and book immediately. This is the single most important booking logistics for any Amsterdam visit.
The visit takes approximately 60–90 minutes. The museum includes the annex rooms, exhibitions documenting the annex inhabitants’ stories (all were deported to concentration camps after their discovery; only Otto Frank survived), and the broader context of the Holocaust in the Netherlands.
The museum is located on the Prinsengracht canal in the Jordaan district, approximately 15 minutes’ walk from Centraal Station.
Guided Tours
The museum itself does not offer guided tours inside the annex — the space is too small and the experience is designed as an individual, contemplative visit. However, guided Anne Frank tours combine the museum visit (using your pre-booked timed ticket) with a walking tour of the Jewish historical sites in Amsterdam — the former Jewish quarter (Jodenbuurt), the Portuguese Synagogue, the Auschwitz Memorial (the former Hollandsche Schouwburg theatre used as a deportation assembly point), the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Stolpersteine (brass memorial cobblestones set into pavements outside the last addresses of deported individuals).
The walking tour provides the historical context that the museum assumes — the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the 107,000 Dutch Jews deported to camps (of whom approximately 102,000 were murdered), and the personal stories of the helpers who risked their lives to keep the annex inhabitants hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book Anne Frank House tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets are only available online with timed entry. They sell out weeks in advance. Book as early as possible — tickets are released approximately 6 weeks ahead. No walk-up tickets are sold.
How long does the Anne Frank House visit take?
Approximately 60–90 minutes for the museum, the annex, and the exhibitions.
Is the Anne Frank House suitable for children?
Children aged 10 and above who have some understanding of the Holocaust and World War II can engage meaningfully with the museum. The annex rooms, the hiding story, and the diary entries are accessible for older children. Younger children may not understand the significance and the content includes deportation and death. The Anne Frank House recommends age 10+.
Can I take photographs inside?
No. Photography is not permitted inside the Anne Frank House. This is to maintain the contemplative atmosphere and to protect the original materials on display.
What if tickets are sold out?
A small number of tickets are released for same-day entry online. Check the website early in the morning. If tickets are unavailable, a guided Anne Frank walking tour covers the external sites and the Jewish historical quarter — valuable context even without the museum interior.