I have edited some of my earlier reviews - any comments or advice would be well received
I have edited some of my earlier reviews - any comments or advice would be well received
Member since:29.12.2004
Reviews:23
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Het Achterhuis - the house behind - what Anne Frank had planned to call her book she was in the process of writing when her life was cruelly cut short.
Anne Frank was a Jew who kept a diary during war town Amsterdam. She was in hiding with her family, another family, and a dentist friend on the Princengract , the same building that was used for her father's jam making company.
Today the house she hid in is a museum, a timely reminder of what happened to millions of Jews, and what we can never let happen again.
I walked to the Museum, and was easy to find on foot, although there is tram stops and the river taxis operate beside the museum too. We went last July, and there was a long queue, but it was worth the wait. The entrance is in a stark modern building beside the Westerkirk, often mentioned in Anne's Diary. It's a stark contrast to the more traditional houses in the area, but blends in surprisingly well.
As you enter the museum, on the walls are excerpts of the diary on the walls, and a looped video of people close to Anne talking about her and her family. There are also signs on the walls, adverts for Anne's father's company and other memorabilia. Upon reaching the staircase, I finally understood why she mentioned in the diary that a cloth was nailed to the door. Up a flight of incredibly steep stairs, and you're into the house itself...
I would like to describe in detail what the house was like, but I can't. It was small and cramped, and admittedly, the thought of those people that hid there horrified me, and I rushed through, barely taking things in. There was an eerie atmosphere and the crowds made it more unpleasant.
There is a display of the cards and postcards that Anne stuck to the wall in her room, they have been preserved, and it brought a lump to my throat. Same as when I saw her original dairy. I would have loved some photos, but flashes aren't allowed, as they would fade the documents that the Anne Frank foundation have fought to preserve.
The tour ends in a shop, although it does seem to only sell things like books relating to Anne Frank, and associated works. There's none of the usual tacky souvenirs you find in museums. It seems to be too serious a museum for such frivolry.
It is definitely worth a visit, and I'm glad I went. It's unsuitable for the disabled or those suffering from claustrophobia though, as the rooms are small and dark, and the stairs are very steep. Also, be prepared for a long wait in peak times in summer.
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Advantages: A great musuem for all ages - much more than just a collection of objects Disadvantages: Not fully accessible to wheel chair users or people with limited mobilty
Mar 30th, 2006
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