Visiting the house, walking through the rooms those 8 people lived in, touched a spot deep inside me. In the picture below, the house where they hid is the house next to the one with a pitched roof.
The wallpaper in the rooms is the original and still contained the pictures that Anne hung up to brighten the place up.
What struck me was the size of the space. For 8 people to live there for 2 years, it was small. But the space was quite large to have been hidden all that time. I don't know how the authorities didn't know it was there.
In other rooms of the house, there are models, pictures and videos. Part of her actual diary is under glass. The video interviews were powerful. There was one by Otto Frank, another by one of the people that helped hide them, one from Anne's best friend.
They also had a bookstore, with her diary and other books available in many different languages. I bought a copy of The Diary of Anne Frank. I feel compelled to read it again since it's been so long. I also picked up a book with stories from 7 different women that knew Anne while she was is Auschwitz.
Here in Germany, they've set Auschwitz up as museum. I haven't made it there yet but I feel I need to before leaving Germany. I'll probably read both books before going.
It's a sad part of our history but if you ever visit Amsterdam, please make a point of visiting the Anne Frank house.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
7 comments:
My wife has been there. She agrees, you can still feel the emotions there. She said she felt like her spirit was still there too.
Riley,
I taught The Diary of Anne Frank for 15 years and hope to visit the Secret Annex some day. Thanks for sharing your photos and insights.
Riley, I envy you your travels:) I too read Anne Frank's Diary as a preteen and can only imagine what it must have been like to visit her hiding place. Such a terrible waste of a precious spirit, she was a bright star snuffed out way too early but I have hope that the diaries she left behind will help to show and remind the world that this must never, ever happen again.
I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I still can't fathom what that poor girl's family, or that entire people endured. It's mind-boggling and chilling. Thank you for this wonderful post.
Reading this made me want to read 'Anne Frank's Diary', all over again. I made a note to pick up the book the next time I'm at the bookstore. Thank you! (Hugs)Indigo
I read the book too and meant to read it again. It made a big impression on me. I can't imagine living in such fear every day. We watched Inglorious Basterds recently and there's a scene where the Nazis come into a house and the Jewish people hide under the floor. It's chilling.
I visited the Anne Frank House several years ago and I was amazed over again how that family managed to survive over two years in that annex. It just boggles the mind. People were very quiet and reverent as they went through the house as I think everyone could still feel the emotions running through the place. It was a very humbling and rewarding experience.
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