Anne Frank House

Many people read The Diary of Anne Frank as children, or at least hear the story of the young, budding writer and her Jewish family hiding in a secret annex, only to be captured shortly before World War II ended. But to actually walk through the make-shift apartment and experience history first-hand is a truly unforgettable experience.

Once you buy your ticket, you can watch a video which gives you some context for what you are about to see. Then, simply walk through the apartment (hidden at the back of her father’s business by a bookcase) in which the Frank family (two parents, Anne and her sister) lived along with another family, the Van Pels’s and their son Peter. The space seems quite spacious at first, until you realize there were eight people living there—and not one of them allowed to leave.

On display are clips from Anne’s diary and other information. Go at the beginning or the end of the day to avoid the queues—an issue which will seem insignificant after a sobering walk through this precious piece of history.