Anne Frank House: How to get your hands on the coveted tickets

Few names have become as famous in the course of coming to terms with National Socialism as that of Anne Frank. As the youngest member of the Jewish Frankfurt family, she moved to Amsterdam in 1933 to escape the growing anti-Semitism in Germany. However, with the occupation of the Netherlands, this also spilled over to Amsterdam a short time later, whereupon the family went into hiding in their famous hiding place in the rear of the Opekta company building – now the Anne Frank House. There they were to hold out for two years, during which Anne recorded her moving experiences in the diary we have all heard about…

Listening to stories is great, experiencing stories is better. And that’s exactly what you can do in Anne’s case in Amsterdam: In the small house at Prinsengracht 263, where the family hid for over two years. It is one of the most touching stories of the time, which is critically and lovingly analysed in the house. When you walk through it, you really get a sense of how the family felt back then, what they had to struggle with and how they stuck together despite everything. The visit is therefore something for young and old, history buffs, families, couples or travellers exploring our beautiful Amsterdam on their own.

What do you need to know to make sure everything runs smoothly during your visit? We’ve put together the ultimate guide for you and tell you how to get your hands on the highly contested tickets!

How long does the visit to the Anne Frank House last?

You should plan at least an hour so that you can explore all the secret corners of the house in a relaxed manner. If that’s too short for you and you’d like to find out more about Anne’s life beyond the hiding time, then our Anne Frank tour is perfect for you! Find out more below.

Where can I get tickets?

Although the house is over 280 years old, the people of Amsterdam are super modern when it comes to selling tickets and the like. Everything around the Anne Frank House has been digital for years. So there are no tickets to buy at the entrance. So that you don’t have to turn back disappointed, we recommend buying your tickets online in advance. You will then be given a time slot in which you can explore the secrets of the house at your leisure. This is also how the Amsterdammers avoid long queues at the entrance. Simply scan and you’ll be on Anne’s trail in no time.

When should I book?

We in Amsterdam are early birds, so clearly: as early as possible! But at least 1 – 2 months in advance. Of course, you’re not the first to get wind of the interesting story behind the Anne Frank House. Unfortunately, the Secret Annex has not been a secret since 1944 and the museum, which has been around since 1960, is now often fully booked weeks or months in advance. So it’s best to plan your visit as soon as you know you’re travelling to beautiful Amsterdam.

SOS – I want to go to the Anne Frank House last minute! Is that possible?

Don’t worry, we have a plan B for the sleepy and spontaneous among you: Ticketswap. This is a super popular app in the Netherlands where you can get tickets for all kinds of events (concerts, museums, etc.) with confidence. So if you can’t find anything on the official website, check Ticketswap – you might still be able to get tickets spontaneously!

How can I pay?

All cash lovers need to be very strong now: Digitalisation is making its way through Amsterdam’s financial system. That’s why you can only pay by credit and debit card at the Anne Frank House.

What can I do if I haven’t managed to get tickets after all?

Don’t panic on the Titanic, of course we have a solution for you: our Anne Frank Tour! It doesn’t take place around the Anne Frank House, but in the exciting Jewish neighbourhood, where we follow Anne and the Jewish population through history – beyond her time in hiding in the house. If you ask yourself questions like: How did Amsterdam come to such greatness and wealth? How did the Jewish population here in the neighbouring country experience the war and its consequences? How did Anne and her family fare during this time? – Then this tour is perfect for you. You’ll see a whole new part of the city and get information that would have remained hidden from you in the Anne Frank House (history and politics fans take note!).

You will also pass the recently opened Holocaust Names Monument, where Anne’s name is engraved. As there are 102,000 more names here, we will be happy to show you where her stone is located.

What else is there to discover around the Anne Frank House?

Quite a lot! Not far from the Anne Frank House you will find the Anne Frank Monument of the same name. Incidentally, this is located in the Jordaan neighbourhood, which some Amsterdammers call the most beautiful spot in the city! There you will find numerous cute little cafés, chic boutiques and delicious Dutch specialities in the lively 9 streets. So it’s worth staying in the neighbourhood and wandering around a bit. If you’d like a little more information and insider tips: We got you! Come along on our Jordaan tour, where we delve deeper into the history of the neighbourhood (including street art and hidden courtyards!).

The Amsterdamliebe team wishes you lots of fun following in Anne’s footsteps ❤️