7 Tips For Visiting the Anne Frank House

August 20, 2016 Hand Drawn, The Netherlands

Anne Frank House | Amsterdam | The Netherlands

{Psst! Are you planning a trip to Amsterdam? The best possible advice I can give you is to buy the Rick Steves guidebook. Seriously. Plus, if you get the Kindle version, you can put it on your smartphone or tablet and save the packing space and weight!}

The Anne Frank House is the 3rd most visited museum in the Netherlands (after the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum). But Y’ALL, just because it’s popular, that does not mean that people know how to navigate its waters.

Luckily, I’ve got you covered with some tips, so you can visit like a pro.

#1: Re-read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl before visiting.

Yeah, yeah. I know you totally “read” this book in high school (mmhm, I see you Cliff’s Notes skimmers), but for real. You have to read this book before you go. Here’s a link.

It’s only 6 bucks (for either paperback or kindle) and it’s a classic. Plus, it makes your visit that much more real. It adds perspective to what you’re about to see, and you’ll feel like you have inside knowledge when you totally get the Opekta signs hanging on the walls and see Peter’s stock market game.

#2: Book your tickets online. And book them early.

***UPDATE 07/2018: Whaaat??? Apparently this post gets so much action from strangers Googling for info (hi randos!), that THE Anne Frank House Communications Department sent me an email with updated deets and asked me to kindly update my blog post. Lolol. So here it is, y’all! Straight from the source.***

You MUST book your tickets online through www.annefrank.org

This is non-negotiable. The line apparently used to extend several blocks and wrap around entire buildings, so now there’s a new system in place. Only people with online, pre-booked tickets with a pre-determined timeslot are allowed to enter the Anne Frank House. Period.

There’s no way around it. Tickets will be released exactly two months in advance (80%) and on the day itself (20%). It’s no longer possible to buy tickets at the museum entrance.

Additionally, the tickets are only valid for the persons they are issued to, and for the date and time selected. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.

Note: if you have a Museum Card (which includes free entry to the Anne Frank House), you will still need to book a time slot online.

#3: Don’t take a backpack!

They won’t let you in with it. A purse is okay, but don’t take a backpack! You’ll just get kicked to the curb like a soggy burrito.

#4: Walk around the house (roughly) in order.

Y’all, this is a super cool thing, but there are a ton of people in a tiny, cramped space. Please don’t be that salmon tryna swim upstream. Just go with the flow!

The whole space is about 500 square feet, so there isn’t a ton of wiggle room. Walk in the direction of the crowd, don’t push, and try to be a civilized human being. (Also, when you feel cramped and crowded, remember that eight people lived here and never left the confines of this tiny space for over two full years. They couldn’t make any noise and lived in constant fear of being discovered. #Perspective.)

#5: Don’t take any pictures! (Or do…)

Okay, I’m not necessarily proud of this. But I took a picture of the famous bookshelf concealing the door to the hiding place.

You’re not supposed to take any photos of the Anne Frank House. And the reasons are as follows: 1) Because this is a very emotional experience for many visitors, 2) Because it impedes the flow of traffic through the house, and 3) Because it could harm the original artifacts (most notably, the diary pages).

So, for the record, I took this picture without flash, in about 0.5 seconds, and when nobody else was anywhere near us. A quick snap, and then I continued on my way. So if you’re going to break the rules, at least be classy about it.

#6: Try not to cry during the film at the end. (Or do…)

This whole experience is very harrowing and sad. But when you’re touring the house, you kind of get in the zone. You walk from room to room, you look at everything, and you take in all the little bits of information. I feel like your brain purposely becomes more analytical, as a sort of compensatory strategy.

However, when you’re finished touring the house, there’s a film. Friends, family, (and even celebrities) talk about Anne, her life, the museum, and WWII. And while you’re sitting there, the emotional impact really hits you. Like a brick wall.

So do your best not to cry during the film. (Or do… it’s okay.)

#7: Treat Yo’self!

I think this is seriously important. You will feel all the feelings after visiting the Anne Frank House. (And again, that’s okay! It’s totally normal.) But it would be pretty easy to get sucked into a never-ending depression spiral about how humans suck and how there is a stupid amount of hate and discrimination in this world.

So… go get a stroopwafel, or a piece of apple pie, or a glass of wine. Go to a park. Record a Dubsmash. Smile at a stranger. Whatever will cheer you up!

The Anne Frank House is a reminder to live each day to the fullest, to find joy in the little things, and to love others with an open heart. #CheesyButTrue

Logistics:

Location: The Anne Frank House is located at Prinsengracht 263-267. It takes around 20 minutes to walk from the Central Station to the museum. Trams 13, 14 and 17 and buses 170, 172 and 174 stop nearby (get off at the Westermarkt stop).

Hours:
April to October: daily 9:00am – 10:00pm (June, July and August from 8:30am to 10:00pm)
November to March: daily 9:00am – 7:00pm (until 9pm on Saturdays)
Open every day of the year except Yom Kippur

HEY. Did you enjoy this post? Are you traveling to the Netherlands soon?

Check out my other blog posts on this beautiful country!

The Travel Medley

7 Tips For Visiting the Anne Frank House

#1: Re-read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl before visiting.