Anne Frank House Museum: A Pioneering Exhibition

A central feature of the Anne Frank House museum, located on one of Amsterdam’s historic canals, is the very rooms where the young Jewish diarist and her family sought refuge from the Nazi regime. This iconic site is about to take a significant step as a full-scale replica of the hidden annex is set to make its way across the Atlantic Ocean.

“For the first time in history, the Anne Frank House will present what I would call a pioneering experience outside of Amsterdam. We aim to immerse visitors in a full-scale, meticulously recreated version of the secret annex where Anne Frank, her parents, and others lived in hiding for over two years to escape Nazi capture,” remarked Anne Frank House director Ronald Leopold in an interview with The Associated Press regarding the upcoming exhibition.

Immersive Experience of Anne’s World

The replica is constructed to mirror the actual annex where Anne penned her poignant diary. It invites visitors to step into the reality of her world, experiencing the cramped living quarters and the daily challenges faced by those in hiding.

A Brief Overview of Anne Frank’s Story

To provide context, in July 1942, a 13-year-old Anne, along with her parents Otto and Edith, and her 16-year-old sister Margot, sought refuge in the hidden annex of her father’s business premises in Amsterdam. Shortly after, they were joined by the van Pels family – Hermann, Auguste, and their 15-year-old son, Peter. Four months later, Fritz Pfeffer joined the group, all seeking to evade the Nazi occupiers in the Netherlands.

This group lived in the annex for more than two years, constantly under the threat of discovery. Unfortunately, in 1944, their hiding place was compromised, resulting in their deportation to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. Anne and Margot later ended up at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they tragically succumbed to typhus in February 1945, just weeks before the camp’s liberation. Anne was only 15 years old at the time.

Opening of the Full-Scale Replica

Otto Frank, the only survivor from the annex, took it upon himself to publish Anne’s diary after the war, transforming it into a global literary phenomenon. The exhibition is set to open on January 27, coinciding with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Leopold emphasized that this exhibition promises to be “an immersive, interactive, and captivating experience” for all visitors. At its core will be the meticulously reconstructed annex, but the exhibit will also delve into the history of Anne’s family, from their life in Germany to their relocation to the Netherlands, their decision to hide, their eventual capture by the Nazis, and Otto’s courageous decision to publish Anne’s diary post-war.

Reflecting on Anne’s Legacy

The diary itself is too fragile to travel, but the exhibition aims to present Anne not just as a victim, but as a multifaceted individual—a teenage girl, a budding writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength. Leopold hopes visitors will reflect on the circumstances that shaped her life.

This exhibition is particularly significant in light of the rising antisemitism and widespread tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has since extended to Lebanon. Following the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, the need for education and understanding has never been more pressing.

“With ever fewer survivors in our communities and a disturbing rise in antisemitism and group hatred, we feel that our responsibility as the Anne Frank House has never been greater,” Leopold stated. “This exhibition is partly a response to that responsibility—to educate people to stand against antisemitism and all forms of group hatred.”

Key Exhibits of the Exhibition

One notable object that will not be making the trip to New York is Anne’s original diary. “We unfortunately will not be able to travel with the diary, writings, or the notebooks that Anne wrote, as they are too fragile and vulnerable,” Leopold explained.

Among the 125 items traveling from Amsterdam for the New York exhibition will be:

• Photographs and albums documenting Anne’s life.
• Artefacts, including one of the yellow stars that Jews were mandated to wear in occupied Netherlands.
• The Oscar for Best Supporting Actress won by Shelley Winters for her role in the 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank.

Anne Frank: The Exhibition will run from January 27 to April 30, 2025, at the Center for Jewish History.