Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
The Original Diary Manuscripts
In the modern exhibition wing, visitors can view Anne’s original handwritten notebooks in climate-controlled glass cases:
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
The Original Diary Manuscripts
In the modern exhibition wing, visitors can view Anne’s original handwritten notebooks in climate-controlled glass cases:
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- The Revolving Bookcase: Constructed in 1942 by helper Johan Voskuijl to disguise the narrow wooden staircase leading into the concealed rear building. Stepping past this original pivoting wooden bookcase into the dimly lit, silent annex is an unforgettable experience.
- The Unfurnished Rooms: When Otto Frank returned from Auschwitz in 1945 as the only survivor, he requested that the Annex never be refurnished with reproduction furniture. The rooms remain empty, echoing with the palpable absence of the people who inhabited them.
- Anne’s Bedroom Walls: In the small bedroom Anne shared with dentist Fritz Pfeffer, her original magazine clippings—glued to the wallpaper to brighten the dreary room—remain preserved behind protective glass: photos of British royalty (Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret), Hollywood movie stars (Greta Garbo, Ray Milland), and cut-out art postcards.
- Pencil Height Marks: On the wallpaper of the Frank family’s main living room, you can still see the original pencil lines where Otto and Edith measured the growth of Anne and Margot over two years in hiding.
- The Blacked-Out Windows: Windows were permanently covered with thick blackout paper to prevent neighbors or German patrols from spotting candlelight from the canal.
The Original Diary Manuscripts
In the modern exhibition wing, visitors can view Anne’s original handwritten notebooks in climate-controlled glass cases:
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
- The Revolving Bookcase: Constructed in 1942 by helper Johan Voskuijl to disguise the narrow wooden staircase leading into the concealed rear building. Stepping past this original pivoting wooden bookcase into the dimly lit, silent annex is an unforgettable experience.
- The Unfurnished Rooms: When Otto Frank returned from Auschwitz in 1945 as the only survivor, he requested that the Annex never be refurnished with reproduction furniture. The rooms remain empty, echoing with the palpable absence of the people who inhabited them.
- Anne’s Bedroom Walls: In the small bedroom Anne shared with dentist Fritz Pfeffer, her original magazine clippings—glued to the wallpaper to brighten the dreary room—remain preserved behind protective glass: photos of British royalty (Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret), Hollywood movie stars (Greta Garbo, Ray Milland), and cut-out art postcards.
- Pencil Height Marks: On the wallpaper of the Frank family’s main living room, you can still see the original pencil lines where Otto and Edith measured the growth of Anne and Margot over two years in hiding.
- The Blacked-Out Windows: Windows were permanently covered with thick blackout paper to prevent neighbors or German patrols from spotting candlelight from the canal.
The Original Diary Manuscripts
In the modern exhibition wing, visitors can view Anne’s original handwritten notebooks in climate-controlled glass cases:
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
Overview: Why the Anne Frank House Is the World’s Most Poignant Memorial
The Anne Frank House (Anne Frank Huis), situated at Prinsengracht 263 along the tree-lined canal of Amsterdam’s historic Jordaan district, is one of the most deeply moving biographical museums on earth. In this 17th-century canal house and its concealed rear annex (the Achterhuis), 13-year-old Jewish girl Anne Frank, her parents Otto and Edith, her older sister Margot, and four other Jewish residents (the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer) lived in hiding from Nazi deportation for 761 days—from July 6, 1942, until their tragic betrayal and arrest by the Gestapo on August 4, 1944.
During those 25 months of total isolation, Anne recorded her hopes, adolescent fears, blossoming romance, and unwavering belief in human goodness into a red-and-white checkered diary given to her on her 13th birthday. Preserved by courageous Dutch helper Miep Gies and published after the war by Otto Frank—the sole survivor of the eight residents—The Diary of a Young Girl has been translated into more than 70 languages and sold over 30 million copies. Today, welcoming roughly 1.2 million visitors annually, the museum preserves the original hiding place as a silent, powerful warning against anti-Semitism, racism, and hatred.
The Secret Annex: Step Behind the Revolving Bookcase
Walking through the front warehouse and offices of Otto Frank’s pectin and spice company (Opekta) leads to the threshold of the secret annex:
- The Revolving Bookcase: Constructed in 1942 by helper Johan Voskuijl to disguise the narrow wooden staircase leading into the concealed rear building. Stepping past this original pivoting wooden bookcase into the dimly lit, silent annex is an unforgettable experience.
- The Unfurnished Rooms: When Otto Frank returned from Auschwitz in 1945 as the only survivor, he requested that the Annex never be refurnished with reproduction furniture. The rooms remain empty, echoing with the palpable absence of the people who inhabited them.
- Anne’s Bedroom Walls: In the small bedroom Anne shared with dentist Fritz Pfeffer, her original magazine clippings—glued to the wallpaper to brighten the dreary room—remain preserved behind protective glass: photos of British royalty (Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret), Hollywood movie stars (Greta Garbo, Ray Milland), and cut-out art postcards.
- Pencil Height Marks: On the wallpaper of the Frank family’s main living room, you can still see the original pencil lines where Otto and Edith measured the growth of Anne and Margot over two years in hiding.
- The Blacked-Out Windows: Windows were permanently covered with thick blackout paper to prevent neighbors or German patrols from spotting candlelight from the canal.
The Original Diary Manuscripts
In the modern exhibition wing, visitors can view Anne’s original handwritten notebooks in climate-controlled glass cases:
- The Red-Checkered Diary: The famous plaid cloth-bound autograph book Anne chose in an Amsterdam bookstore on her 13th birthday, filled with her cursive Dutch handwriting.
- The Loose Sheets (Version B): When Anne heard a radio broadcast from London in 1944 by Dutch government minister Gerrit Bolkestein calling for citizens to preserve diaries for post-war publication, she enthusiastically began rewriting and editing her diary into a formal novel on hundreds of loose sheets of carbon paper.
- The “Tales from the Secret Annex”: Short fables and fictional stories Anne penned to pass the long hours of mandatory silence during warehouse work hours.
Tickets, Pricing & The Strict Tuesday Ticket Drop
CRITICAL ADVISORY: Securing tickets to the Anne Frank House is one of the most competitive bookings in global travel. Tickets can ONLY be purchased online via the official museum website (annefrank.org).
- Ticket Prices: €16 EUR for adults (€7 for youth ages 10–17; €1 for children under 10). A €1 booking fee applies per order. Includes a complimentary multilingual audio guide.
- When Tickets Are Released: All tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Central European Time (CET) for dates exactly six weeks in advance. Set a phone calendar alarm for Tuesday 9:55 AM CET; popular morning and weekend slots sell out within minutes of release.
- Same-Day Tickets: There are no same-day walk-up tickets available at the door. If you miss the six-week advance drop, check the website frequently, as last-minute cancellation slots occasionally pop up in the evening.
Practical Visitor Details, Hours & Accessibility
- Address: Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands (visitor entrance is around the corner on Westermarkt, beside the Westerkerk church).
- Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry at 8:45 PM). Evening visits after 7:00 PM offer a quieter, deeply contemplative atmosphere.
- Steep Stairs Warning: The historic Secret Annex contains original, extremely steep, narrow Dutch wooden staircases that require both hands on handrails. Due to the historic architecture, the Secret Annex is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible (though the modern exhibition wing is).
- Transit: Take Tram 13 or 17 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Westermarkt stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy Anne Frank House tickets on the day of your visit?
No, there are no physical ticket desks. All tickets must be booked online at annefrank.org. The only chance for same-day entry is checking the website throughout the day to catch cancellation slots released by other travelers.
Why is the Secret Annex empty of furniture?
Following the raid and arrest of the residents by the Nazis in 1944, all furnishings were confiscated and shipped to Germany. Otto Frank, the only surviving resident, requested that the rooms remain unfurnished to symbolize the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust.
Are photos allowed inside the Anne Frank House?
No, photography and filming are strictly prohibited throughout the entire museum and Secret Annex to preserve the quiet, contemplative memorial atmosphere and protect the fragile historic manuscripts.
