The Anne Frank house — why a visit with t(w)eens is important
Anne Frank is a name that is familiar to most, if not all. Her world-famous diary has been translated into more than 60 languages worldwide, and the story of her family hiding in Amsterdam during WWII is universally known. We can all envision the photos of Anne's sweet face, depicting a girl on the verge of adolescence.
I remember reading the diary when I was a teenager. It captivated me; I felt Anne was a friend —it even (briefly) inspired me to start my own diary. I also remember visiting the famous 'Achterhuis' (the secret annex in the Anne Frank House) around that time, and how special it was to set foot into the rooms Anne so vividly described in her book.
Anne received her diary for her thirteenth birthday and wrote in it daily until the day 'the Achterhuis' was betrayed in 1944, and its inhabitants were captured and deported to Auschwitz. Anne was 15.
Addressing her 'best friend' Kitty, Anne describes life in the hiding place. She outlines the sometimes troubling interactions between the inhabitants, who lived in extremely close proximity with virtually no freedom, privacy, or fresh air for almost two years. ("The sun is shining, the sky is deep blue, there's a magnificent breeze, and I’m longing - really longing– for everything: conversation, freedom, friends, being alone.")
She also deeply contemplates the political situation and human nature ("Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."). But she also writes about her changing body and emotions, her budding sexuality, and her first love.
Anne's father, Otto, is the only one of the family who survives the concentration camps and is able to return to Amsterdam after the war. He is handed Anne's diary, which was left behind in the Achterhuis and had been kept safely by one of the family's helpers and close friends. Otto ensures that one of Anne's deepest wishes is fulfilled, and her diary is eventually published.
The Anne Frank House becomes a museum, a spiritual place to remember, to gather, and to learn.
When you’re in Amsterdam with children who have reached the age where they can read Anne Frank's famous diary (and are old enough to grasp its actual meaning), a visit to the Achterhuis can be a powerful experience.
Wandering through the empty spaces, seeing the same view Anne and her family and friends saw for such a long period, is a humbling experience. The lack of furniture makes it a place for reflection and remembrance; it exudes respect, quiet understanding, and sadness, but also hope. Anne's hope becomes our hope, and that is the important message of the Anne Frank House, for us and for our children.
Perhaps you would also like to visit the square where Anne and her family once lived. Their apartment is still there, the apartment block unchanged, marked only by four ‘stumbling stones’ (the brass stones placed in the sidewalk), bearing the Frank family’s names.
In the small square opposite stands a beautiful little sculpture of Anne, a perfectly sweet and silent commemoration.
xxx Esther
PS Make sure to purchase tickets well in advance of your intended visit as time slots sell out fast. The Anne Frank House can provide a thought provoking, interesting and educational experience for children, however please note that it is recommended for ages 10 and up.