Visiting the house where Anne Frank and her family spent just over two years in hiding was a sobering experience. It was disconcerting to think that it was actually less than one hundred years ago that the Nazi regime inflicted such cruelty on an innocent population.
I was glad that I had read the published version of Anne’s diary only days before our trip to Amsterdam. Somehow it brought even more significance to our visit. The rooms of the house were empty of furniture, but filled with echoes of the past. The audio descriptions were powerful with many of the words being verbatim quotes from Anne’s diary.
We were able to walk from our hotel near Central Station to the warehouse where Otto Frank hid his family. I suppose it was an easy walk but Lyle and I would have had major problems locating it if it hadn’t been for the technical savvy of our son-in-law. Andrew has been an amazing tour guide for our walking trips around the city.
I was surprised when we arrived at the warehouse. Apart from the crowds sitting outside, it was relatively indistinguishable from the surrounding buildings. The receiving staff were very professional and helpful when I arrived with my cane. They advised me that I might not be able to complete all the various stairways. Indeed, the stairs were very narrow and steep. I felt unable to climb the last steep stairway to the attic. According to my family who did climb these stairs, walking in this space was a very solemn experience.
If you plan on visiting Amsterdam I would highly recommend a visit to the house of Anne Frank. I would also recommend reading Anne’s diary before the visit. Finally, I must add that reservations for the tour are absolutely necessary, and must be made at least a month in advance to coordinate with your travel plans. Thanks again to Andrew for talking care of this as well.
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