What is the secret annex at Anne Frank House?

The secret annex, or 'achterhuis,' is the dark, airless hidden space within the Anne Frank House where the Frank family and their friends were concealed from Nazi persecution during World War II. This is the primary focus of the museum and the very room where Anne wrote her famous diary while maintaining complete silence during daylight hours.

Why is the Anne Frank House historically important?

The Anne Frank House preserves one of the 20th century's most compelling stories—a young Jewish girl forced into hiding with her family to escape Nazi persecution. The building itself is largely intact, allowing visitors to walk through the spaces where Anne's restrictions as a Dutch Jew were gradually imposed and where she documented her extraordinary experience in her famous diary.

What will I see when I visit the Anne Frank House museum?

When visiting, you'll walk through the actual building where the Frank family hid, including the secret annex where they lived in hiding. The museum focuses on the achterhuis and allows visitors to experience the confined spaces where Anne wrote her diary, making it easy to imagine what daily life was like during their years in concealment.

How long did the Frank family stay hidden in the Anne Frank House?

The Frank family and their friends remained hidden in the secret annex until close to the end of World War II, when they were mysteriously betrayed and discovered by the Nazis. The house served as their safe refuge for an extended period, during which time Anne documented her experiences and observations in her now-famous diary.

Is the Anne Frank House original or reconstructed?

The Anne Frank House is pretty much intact, meaning the building has remained largely preserved in its original state, allowing visitors to experience the authentic spaces where the Frank family hid. This preservation makes the museum particularly powerful, as you can walk through the actual rooms and the secret annex exactly as Anne would have experienced them.

← Back

Historical Sites 📍 Amsterdam, Netherlands 199 views

Anne Frank House

Photo · Claudia C.

Anne Frank House — Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Location

Amsterdam

Type

Historical Sites

Opening hours

—

Weather now

—

↗ Directions

About Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House - Amsterdam | Secret World Trip Planner

It is one of the 20th century's most compelling stories: a young Jewish girl forced into hiding with her family and their friends to escape persecution by the Nazis. The house Otto Frank used as a hideaway for his family kept them safe until close to the end of World War II. The focus of the Anne Frank House museum is the achterhuis, also known as the secret annex. It was in this dark, airless space that the Franks maintained complete silence during the day, before being mysteriously betrayed and sent to their deaths. The Anne Frank House is pretty much intact, so as you walk through the building it's easy to imagine Anne’s experience growing up here as she wrote her famous diary describing how restrictions were gradually imposed on Dutch Jews.