Anne Frank House, Amsterdam!

^{We checked out The Anne Frank House Museum while in Amsterdam. Admissions for adults is 9 euro. Age 10-7 is 4.50 euro. Age 0-9 is free. So it is a cheap tour and awesome to see! It was a bummer because you are not allowed to take pictures inside so I don't have many. The House in the Netherlands is the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary during the Second World War. I've actually started reading The Diary of Young Girl since our visit and she was such a great writer! "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." {Anne Frank}}

1925 - 1933 The Happy Years
Otto and Edith Frank settled in Frankfurt, Germany after getting married. They had Margot in 1926 and Anne in 1929. The first years were happy until the economic crisis empowers Hitlers NSDAP.  1933 Hitler takes over as leader of the German government. They look for a way to escape. “As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?” {Anne Frank}

1933 - 1939 Emigrating to The Netherlands
The Frank family leaves Germany, where Otto is able to start a business up in Amsterdam. They find a place to live on the Merwedeplein. The Franks feel safe and free again. The children go to school, Otto works hard on his business and Edith takes care of the household. But on September 1, 1939 Germany attacks Poland and that is just the beginning. “Whoever is happy will make others happy.” {Anne Frank}

A model of the living space that the 8 shared in the secret annex.

 1940 - 1942 The German Invasion
May 10, 1940 German troops invade The Netherlands. Five days later the Netherlands surrender. With the Netherlands now occupied, life changes for Jews. Restrictions keep mounting, both for individuals and for Otto's business. Otto tries to emigrate to America with his family but fails. It becomes clear that the family will have to go into hiding. The hiding place in the attice of Otto’s business premises are prepared. "I live in a crazy time." {Anne Frank}

1942 - 1944 The Secret Annex
The family goes into hiding in the secret annex where the windows are covered and they couldn't make a peep. As well as the Franks there are also four other Jews in hiding with them: Hermann and Auguste van Pels with their son Peter, and Fritz Pfeffer. Four of Otto’s employees help them. Everyone lives in constant fear of being discovered. And it’s certainly not easy for eight people to live in such close quarters. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” {Anne Frank}

The original bookcase to the Secret Annex

1942 - 1944 The Diary
Anne writes in her diary during her time in the Secret Annex as well as short stories, and collecting sentences from other authors she admired. Anne hopes for her diary to get published as a novel after the war. Unfortunately her work is unfinished as they get captured right before the end of the war. “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” {Anne Frank}

1944 - 1945 The Arrest
Someone betrayed the Franks and Friends leading everyone in the Secret Annex to get arrested. They are deported first to the Westerbork transit camp, and then on to Auschwitz. Otto Frank is the only person from the Secret Annex to survive the camps, the other people in hiding in the secret annex all perish in different concentration camps. The identity of their betrayer has never been established. “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”{Anne Frank}

1945 - 1946 Otto Frank Returns
After Auschwitz is liberated, Otto returns to Amsterdam. He soon learns that all of his family had died in the war. Back in Amsterdam, he goes to see Miep and Jan Gies. Miep then gives him Anne’s diaries. Otto reads his daughter’s diary. He is surprised by her deep thoughts and feelings. “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” {Anne Frank}

1947 - 1980 The Diary of Anne Frank
Anne wished for her diaries to be published after the war and at first Otto doesn't know what to do. Anne's Frank Diary called "The Secret Annex" is published on June 25, 1947. There are translations, and it is adapted to both film and theatre. People all over the world get to know Anne Frank’s story, and are deeply touched. Otto Frank answers thousands of letters from people who have read his daughter’s diary. He spends the rest of his life  working for human rights and respect. “The weak die out and the strong will survive, and will live on forever” {Anne Frank}

Statue of Anne Frank, by Mari Andriessen, outside the Westerkerk in Amsterdam.

See what we walked through!
3D Visual Tour of The Secret Annex!

Dutch Word of the Day:
Geheim meaning Secret

PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda