Klemio
Anne Frank House
You walk through the actual annex where Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid for two years before they were betrayed and deported. The rooms behind the hinged bookcase are kept nearly bare, the way Otto Frank wanted, and the magazine pictures Anne pasted to her wall are still there. Few visits in Amsterdam hit harder.
Photos: Massimo Catarinella (CC BY-SA 3.0), Lệ Xuân (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ank Kumar (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most moving places you can go, full stop. The hard part is the ticket: online only, released in batches a few weeks out, and gone within minutes for good dates, so this comes down to whether you planned around the release.
Worth it for
- Anyone who has read the diary or wants to stand in this history rather than read about it
- Visitors who landed a slot and want a quiet, unhurried walk through
You can skip if
- You could not grab a ticket in the narrow online window, because there is no way in at the door
- Heavy historical sites distress you, or you are bringing very young children
Tickets & tours for Anne Frank House
Which ticket should you buy?
The story of the house
Otto Frank ran his business from this building on the Prinsengracht. In July 1942 the family went into hiding in the rear part of the house, the Secret Annex, reached through a doorway later concealed behind a hinged bookcase. They were joined by the van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer, and helped by a small group of Otto's employees who brought food and news.
The group hid for more than two years before being discovered and deported in August 1944. Of the eight people in the annex, only Otto survived. Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen camp in early 1945. Her father later published the diary she kept during hiding, which became one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust.
What you walk through
The route takes you through the front building and into the annex itself. The rooms are kept largely bare, at Otto Frank's wish, which gives the space a stark honesty. You see the bookcase that hid the entrance, the small rooms where the families lived, and the magazine pictures Anne pasted to her bedroom wall, still in place.
Original pages from the diary are on display, along with quotes, photographs, and short films that set the wider history. The experience is quiet and self-paced, and many people find it more moving than they expect. Allow time to take it in rather than rushing the final rooms.
Visiting practicalities
This is the single hardest ticket to get in Amsterdam, so plan around it. Tickets are timed and sold online only, released on a rolling basis a set number of weeks ahead (around six weeks at a time). They sell out within minutes of release for popular dates, so set a reminder and book the moment a new batch opens.
There are no door sales, so without an online timed ticket you cannot get in at all, however long you wait. Photography and filming are not allowed anywhere inside, which keeps the space calm and respectful. The annex is reached by steep, narrow stairs, so the route is physically demanding and not fully accessible.
The neighborhood
The house stands in the Jordaan, beside the Westerkerk, whose tall tower Anne mentions hearing from the annex. The surrounding streets are among the prettiest in the city, full of small shops, cafes, and quiet canals.
Because timed entry controls the crowd inside, it is easy to combine the visit with a walk along the Prinsengracht afterward. The area rewards wandering once you are done.
Anne Frank House: FAQs
Online only, with timed entry. Tickets are released on a rolling basis a number of weeks ahead, around six weeks at a time, and sell out fast. Book the moment a new batch opens.
No. There are no door sales. Without an online timed ticket you cannot enter, so book as soon as your dates are released.
No. Photography and filming are not allowed anywhere inside the museum, which helps keep the experience quiet and respectful.
The Secret Annex is reached by steep, narrow original stairs and is not fully accessible. Check the museum's accessibility information before visiting if mobility is a concern.
Most people spend roughly an hour to ninety minutes inside. The route is self-paced, so allow time rather than rushing the annex.
Yes, it opens daily, with long hours that often run into the evening. Confirm the hours for your date when you book.
Explore more in Amsterdam
Plan your trip
- Best time to visit Amsterdam
- Day trips from Amsterdam
- 2 Days in Amsterdam: A Realistic First-Timer Itinerary
- Free Things to Do in Amsterdam (Yes, Really)
- Amsterdam with Kids: Bikes, Boats, and Pancakes
- Amsterdam at Night: Lit Canals and Quiet Corners
- Amsterdam When It Rains: The Indoor Plan
- Rijksmuseum vs Van Gogh Museum: Which to Pick?
Where to next?
One short email, twice a month: handpicked experiences, hidden-gem cities, and the best windows to book them.