Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

I was really looking forward to visiting Anne Frank's house, since I read her book years ago and it had a profound effect on me. So I was hoping it would be a special moment of the trip... But I must confess I was a little disappointed.

Basically, there were only the walls, and some excerpts of her book and some pics on it. I appreciated going there anyway, and I recommend it to everyone that knows her story and feels interested about it, but I was expecting something more moving.

Expect to queue unless you get there early!! And I mean queue!

Very interesting and a must see for me. Real insight into what it was like; and although restored, most of the living area is unchanged. Very, very, sad! If you're an emotional kinda person, then be prepared to cry in public.

Some steep stairs in the house, so not for anyone suffering with Vertigo or for the elderly etc etc

After traveling via auto from Paris to Amsterdam with a friend who lives in Amsterdam and observing people pulling over to the side of the road to observe rememberance of their country being occupied by the Germans - I knew that the country was still suffering some 50 something years later. I had that experience prior to visiting the Anne Frank House. Wow. If you have ever seen the movie or read the wildly popular book, which is her diary through this occupation, you MUST visit. It'll make you thankful for all that you have.

Well to be honest, i am speechless about this and am not really sure what to write.

I dont think anyone should be pused to go here, it is up to you. If you feel you want to then do it but if you are not sure, i wouldn't.

I am glad i went, it ws very interesting, but very sad! I cried!

I had planned for years to go to the Anne Frank House, and finally made it on Christmas Day 2005. It was undeniably sad, moving and also uplifting. I really enjoyed it and so did my daughter who had learned something about Anne Frank at school.

Because it's a tiny house and you need to move around from room to room in a set order, it often has long, long queues of people waiting to enter. Once your in, in can be quite claustrophobic if you are so inclined. Best get there out of season. Christmas Day is good, though it is only open for reduced hours - from noon when I went, but check the website first.

The Anne Frank House is a must see, in my humble opinion. This is a place where you can feel the history and walk in their footsteps. It makes her story come alive, I don't think reading her story prior to going is absolutely necessary. I do think that it helps with painting the picture of what her life was like. She was a brave young lady in horrible times.

I would highly suggest getting there as the doors open, if you wait to visit in the afternoon you can expect some serious line lounging. We visited early and by the time we finished the crowds had caught up to us in the house and the line was beginning to form.

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Anne Franks house has been open to the public since 1960 and is an extremely popular tourist attraction. On entering the house there is a small exhibition showing plans of the house & giving snap shots of Anne Franks Diary on the walls. Anne and her family took up hiding in the annex of the house in 1942 when the German Nazi's occupied the Netherlands during World War II. Later on they were joined by the Van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer.

On walking round the rooms you will see display cases containing information, pictures, forged documents. The rooms had an eerie feel to them. Anne's room still has the original posters and postcards which she used to brighten up the room.

Also on Display is the original diary which Anne received on her Thirteenth Birthday. This is where she documented her thoughts,feelings and events whilst the families were in hiding, the diary was later published by her father Otto.

Once you have finished the tour of the house you will come to a very nice coffee shop which has a reading table containing publications of the Anne Frank House which you can buy in the museum book store.

As this is a highly popular tourist attraction it is always busy, to avoid lenghthy queues I would suggest getting there just as it opens. (see website for details) I did this, my visit was out of season - on a windy Sunday January morning. I got there just after opening time and still there were a few people in front of me!

There are some steep wooden stairs leading to the annex in the house.

I remember, we arrived in front of a house along canal and waited on a line for buying ticket (7 Euro). The place gathered quite many Asian tourists. There were some exhibitions about Jewish life in the WW2 and also family Frank’s personal items like pictures, Anna’s writing and newspaper cuttings etc. in the house. It was forbidden to take pictures.

What caught my eyes the most was an old world map which marked the territory of Netherlands by red color. Taiwan (Formosa) was included! We finally walked up a narrow stairs which entrance was used to be hidden by a wooden cabinet. It was a way to reach the place where the family Frank had lived secretly. The room was a little bigger than I had imagined… And I was impressed by very fine toilet and flush system in Europe in the beginning of 20 century! (I still remember the backward washing room which I used in elementary school...)

In the souvenir shop they sold Anna’s famous daily of various versions. I was excited to see some printed in traditional Chinese characters from Taiwan! Anyway, it’s an unforgettable experience to visit Anna Frank House which reminds me the importance of peace in the world.