Anne Frank house Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Anne Frank - she was but a young girl writing on her diary about her personal experiences as a Jewish girl in Amsterdam forced to go into hiding from the Nazi regime. And yet, her voice and her legacy continue to this day because of her diary, which continues to be on the bestseller list. Today, her legacy can be visited in the Anne Frank House located at Prinsengracht 263-265 in Amsterdam.

It is one of the city's top tourist destinations with almost one million visitors trooping to the well-preserved hiding place of the Frank family from 6 July 1942 to 4 August 1944. Visitors are drawn to the melancholy bedroom of Anne Frank with the actual diary being the sole attraction of the claustrophobia-inducing space, as well as the small autograph notebook should be given its impact on the world. While waiting for your turn inside the museum, you can read the published book, which has been translated to countless languages, to gain a sense of what Anne Frank and her family had to go through during the war.

The main focus of the Anne Frank House is the actual Achterhuis, which was the rear part of the house. In the translated editions of the diary, this was referred to as the "secret annex" for convenience. It consisted of three stories with the landing located above the Opekta offices while also being concealed from outside view by the surrounding houses.

Anne Frank and her family, who were later joined by others, lived in a total of 500 square feet of space. There were two small rooms and a bathroom and toilet on the first level; the second level had a large open room and a small room; and the third level was an attic accessed via a ladder. The main entrance was covered by a bookcase, which is now recreated in its original position.

Anne Frank and her family as well as the other tenants of the secret annex managed to escape arrest by the Nazis mainly through three factors. First, some of the employees working in the building protected the tenants. Second, the tenants themselves took extraordinary measures to remain undetected such as remaining absolutely quiet during the day. Third, the building itself was secluded.

You will feel an overwhelming presence of the family's indomitable spirit to stay alive and to maintain their dignity as much as possible under the circumstances. Anne Frank was definitely in the right place to have written about her personal experiences in the secret annex for future generations to learn lessons from in tolerance.

Today, such lessons can be relearned by visits to the exhibition spaces, the bookshop and the secret annex. A cafe is also in the premises for refreshments and discussions of the experience.

The Anne Frank house is, indeed, worthy of multiple visit despite its austere appearance in contrast with the bright lights of Amsterdam. Book your vacation apartment today and start planning your itinerary to the City of Canals starting with the house of its most famous daughter. You will find that an apartment in Amsterdam provides a good contrast between enjoying the freedom to choose your accommodations against being confined in one of its secret rooms.

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