From the streets of Amsterdam to your garden at home, thank you for walking in her footsteps, and helping her memory grow. This page is part of our commitment to keep Anne Frank’s story alive, for guests who joined our tour and for anyone who wants to understand her life and legacy.
You’ve walked in Anne Frank’s footsteps. Now, you can remember her when you return home.
Thank you for joining Anne Frank’s Amsterdam walking tour.
As a token of remembrance, you’ve received a small packet of forget-me-not seeds, a living tribute to Anne’s story, resilience, and enduring spirit.
Plant them, watch them grow, and let her memory take root, wherever you are.
What many people don’t realise is that Anne edited large parts of her diary herself. In 1944, she heard an announcement on the radio that the Dutch government in exile was collecting wartime diaries. That’s when she began rewriting her entries, carefully shaping them into something she hoped could one day be published. She wanted her story to matter.
“Will I ever be able to write something truly great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?”
Before going into hiding, Anne had a beloved black cat named Moortje. When the family fled to the Secret Annex, they had to leave Moortje behind. Anne missed her dearly and mentioned her in her diary. Moortje was a symbol of the normal life they lost overnight.
“I’m very worried about my cat, Moortje. I’m terribly afraid she’ll get run over or starve to death.” Anne, July 1942
Anne had a love for classical music. In her diary, she mentions how deeply she was moved by the works of Franz Liszt, especially his “Liebestraum” (Dreams of Love). His melodies brought her comfort and inspiration while in hiding. She even listed Liszt as her favourite composer when writing in her “famous people” notebook.
Music, for Anne, was a private escape, an emotional refuge during the most fearful days.
Quotes from the diary that continue to inspire the world:
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Anne Frank went into hiding in July 1942, together with her family and four others, in a concealed annex behind her father’s office on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House has recreated a virtual version of the Secret Annex with a 360º interactive tour. Take a virtual step into the hidden rooms behind the bookcase and explore the place where Anne wrote her words.
A video of a wedding of Anne’s neighbours. For about a second we can see Anne hanging out of a window to see what happens on the street.
The chestnut tree was the only tree Anne could see from the attic, and descendants from this tree now grow around the world. Anne often wrote about the tree she saw from the attic window. It gave her comfort and hope. In 2010, the original tree, which was 170 years old, fell in a storm, but chestnuts had been collected and saplings were planted worldwide.
The “Anne Frank Trees” can be found growing in:
Each one reminds visitors of Anne’s dream for peace and freedom.
At the end of our Anne Frank tour, we gave you a small gift: a piece of paper with forget-me-not seeds embedded within it. These delicate blue flowers are a symbol of remembrance, a way to carry Anne’s story forward and keep her memory alive.
Here’s how to plant them:
After about a week, the first green shoots will appear. As they grow, let them remind you of Anne Frank, her hope, her courage, and the importance of never forgetting.
We have several tours in Amsterdam that explore the Jewish History of the city and more about Anne Frank. Join one of these tours or let your friends know about your experience.
At Amsterdam Experiences, we strongly support the mission of the Anne Frank House: to share Anne’s story and stand up for freedom, equality, and human rights.
These values are at the heart of our Anne Frank tours. We also donate part of the profit made from the Anne Frank Tours to the Foundation every year.
If you’ve been moved by her story and want to help preserve her legacy, you can make a direct donation to the Anne Frank House. Your support helps fund educational programmes, exhibitions, and the upkeep of the Secret Annex.
Donate directly at:www.annefrank.org/en/donate
Together, we can ensure that Anne’s voice continues to be heard and is never forgotten.