Why the Anne Frank House Matters
The Anne Frank House is more than a museum — it is one of the most important historic sites in the world. For 761 days between 1942 and 1944, Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid in a concealed annex behind a bookcase in a canal house on the Prinsengracht. Anne's diary, written during those years, has become one of the most widely read books in history and a defining document of the Holocaust.
Walking through the cramped, unchanged rooms of the Secret Annex is an experience unlike anything else in Amsterdam. There are no reconstructions here — the rooms are preserved as they were found in 1944, stripped of furniture by the Nazis after the arrest, but retaining the photographs Anne pasted on the walls, the pencil marks tracking the children's growth, and an atmosphere of extraordinary weight.
How to Get Tickets
The Anne Frank House has strict capacity limits to protect the experience and the building. Around 80% of tickets are sold online in advance; the remaining 20% are released as same-day tickets via a virtual queue that opens at 09:00 on the day of your visit. Here's your best strategy:
- Book two months ahead: Log onto annefrank.org at exactly 9:00 AM Amsterdam time (08:00 UK time; 03:00 EST) when new dates open. They sell out in minutes.
- Same-day queue: If you didn't book in advance, join the virtual queue at 09:00 via the website. Arrive at your assigned time slot — you won't be admitted late.
- Avoid ticket touts: Resale tickets are prohibited and frequently fraudulent. Only buy from annefrank.org.
- School groups and Fridays: Weekdays, especially Friday mornings, see fewer leisure tourists than weekends.
What to Expect Inside
The visit is one-way and lasts approximately 60–90 minutes. You move through the front house (where Otto Frank's business operated) before entering the Secret Annex through the famous bookcase — exactly as those in hiding would have done each day.
The rooms are small and the impact is immediate. Anne and Margot's bedroom still has the film star cut-outs Anne collected on the walls. The bathroom is tiny. The living room where the families spent their days is barely larger than a modern hotel room. Original diary pages are displayed in the exhibition area.
There is no photography permitted inside the Secret Annex rooms — a rule that deserves to be respected.
Practical Information
- Address: Prinsengracht 263–267, 1016 GV Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 9:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00)
- Tickets: Adults €16 | Ages 10–17 €7 | Under-10 free
- Duration: Allow 60–90 minutes
- Museumkaart: NOT accepted here — one of the few Amsterdam museums that doesn't participate
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
- Read Anne's diary (or watch the documentary) before visiting — context transforms the experience entirely.
- Evening slots (18:00–21:00) tend to be quieter and more atmospheric — the low light through the windows is particularly moving.
- The museum café (in the front house) serves good coffee. Spend time in the permanent exhibition after the annex — it provides important historical context about the hiding period and Anne's later life.
- The gift shop sells several editions of the diary and Anne Frank House publications. These make more meaningful purchases than most Amsterdam souvenirs.
Getting There
The Anne Frank House is on the Prinsengracht canal in the Jordaan neighbourhood. Tram 13 or 17 stop on the nearby Westermarkt. It is also easily walkable from Dam Square (15 minutes) or the Jordaan area. There is no parking nearby — the area is heavily congested.
Nearby
The Westerkerk (church) immediately next door is where Anne Frank wrote about hearing the bells from the annex. The Jordaan neighbourhood surrounding the house is one of Amsterdam's most beautiful areas for walking, eating, and exploring independent shops.