Anne Frank House Amsterdam

The main building at Prinsengracht 263, along with the adjacent property at 265, was constructed in 1635 by Dirk van Delft. This historic canal house later became the Anne Frank House museum.

The canal-side façade of the house dates from a renovation completed in 1740. During this period, the original rear annex was demolished, altering the building's structure.

The building served as a private residence until the nineteenth century. For example, in 1821, Captain Johannes Christiaan van den Bergh, an adjutant third class, resided in the house.

On December 1, 1940, Otto Frank relocated the offices of his spice and gelling companies, Opekta and Pectacon, to Prinsengracht 263, the building that would later become the Anne Frank House.

During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, Anne Frank, her family, and four others concealed themselves from Nazi persecution for two years and one month in the hidden rooms of the 17th-century canal house, known as the Secret Annex.

After Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam, Anne's wartime diary, titled _Het Achterhuis_, was published in Dutch in 1947, featuring Anne's chosen name for a future memoir based on her hiding experiences.

In 1955, the Berghaus Company planned to demolish the row of houses on Prinsengracht, including the future museum site, for redevelopment. This prompted a public campaign and protest to save the building.

The Anne Frank Foundation was established on May 3, 1957, under the leadership of Otto Frank. Its primary goal was to raise funds to purchase and restore the building to prevent its demolition.

In October 1957, the Berghaus Company, which had intended to demolish the row of houses, donated Prinsengracht 263 to the Anne Frank Foundation as a gesture of goodwill, securing its future.

The Anne Frank House museum was formally established on May 3, 1960. It serves as a writer's house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank.

Following restoration, the building at 263 Prinsengracht was officially opened as a museum to the public in 1960. This marked the beginning of its role as a globally recognized historical site.

The museum required renovations to manage a large number of visitors and temporarily closed for this reason in 1970, addressing the growing interest in Anne Frank's hiding place.

The building is officially recognized as a Dutch Rijksmonument, a national heritage site, indicated by the designation number 4296, highlighting its protected historical significance.

To manage its large visitor numbers, the museum closed temporarily for renovations again in 1999, which was part of "The Maintenance and Future of the Anne Frank House" initiative.

The 1999 project preserved the Secret Annex and the front of 263 Prinsengracht, while a newly built corner structure housed the entrance, cashier, cafe, and other amenities, expanding the museum complex.

In 2004, the official www.annefrank.org website was launched, providing information about the museum in six different languages to cater to its expanding international audience and enhance accessibility.

Coinciding with the museum's 50th anniversary in 2010, a 3D virtual reality tour was introduced. This initiative allowed virtual access for remote visitors and enhanced physical visits.

Ronald Leopold assumed the role of executive director of the Anne Frank House in 2011, overseeing the museum's operations and its mission to preserve Anne Frank's legacy.

Garance Reus-Deelder was appointed as the managing director of the Anne Frank House in 2012, joining the executive leadership team to guide the museum's administration and public engagement.