Caring for a special collection
Our first priority is to keep the Anne Frank Collection in the best possible condition. We work with dedicated experts to achieve this. It allows us to show the permanent fixtures and objects in the museum. We also make sure that the temperature and humidity in the museum and the depot are stable.
The red checked diary of Anne Frank is on permanent display at the Anne Frank House. This fragile manuscript is sensitive to light, vibrations, and humidity. A special showcase has been designed to ensure that the diary remains in good condition. The following film clip explains how this special showcase was made.
The original bookcase that concealed the entrance to the hiding place during the war has been part of the Anne Frank House since its opening in 1960. Its condition has visibly deteriorated since then. Today, the bookcase has a partial glass cover to prevent further deterioration. The glass case affects the visitor experience, and some visitors feel put at more of a distance, but in general, the response is positive.
The pictures that Anne stuck on the walls of her room reflect her interests. These pictures and the wallpaper they were glued to are very fragile. In order to protect them and preserve them for the future, they have been restored a number of times. The last restoration effort took 10 years.
The building at Prinsengracht 263 is an important part of the collection. We uphold high standards in looking after the building, to ensure that future generations may still visit this place.
Every year, over 1.3 million people visit the Anne Frank House. Most of them tread carefully, but it is inevitable that some damage occurs. To keep the collection in the building in good condition, we have taken appropriate measures and carried out restorations.
We have had historical research and research into the materials and techniques carried out into the state of building since 1940. We know from research which elements were present when the building served as a hiding place (1942-1944) and which were added later.
In 2005, the interior of the former home of the Frank family at Merwedeplein was restored to the way it looked in the 1930s. The Anne Frank House acquired the building in 2017. Today, it is rented by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, which every year invites a writer, poet, or journalist who is persecuted or threatened in his or her own country, to live and write there for a year.
The Anne Frank House is responsible for the management and conservation of the historical elements of the house. A conservation plan has been drawn up.