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The building at Prinsengracht 263

By Miriam Sluis; updated: 20 October

20-10-1999

The building at Prinsengracht 263, which later became known as the Anne Frank House, was built in 1635 by Dirk van Delft. One hundred years later, the structure was exposed to serious remodelling. In 1739, the house was outfitted with a new front and the small old "achterhuis" was replaced by a larger one, which would later be known as the Secret Annex.

Before Otto Frank situated his Opekta and Pectacon companies at Prinsengracht 263 in late 1940, the building housed a pianola roll factory. The Frank family goes into hiding in the Secret Annex on July 6, 1942. Preparations for such a move had been underway for quite a while, but the decision is sped up by the fact that Anne's sister Margot receives notice to report to a work camp office. The family goes into hiding the next day.

They are joined by Otto Frank's business partner and his family, the Van Pels', on July 13, 1942. In November of that year, the eight and last occupant of the Secret Annex, Mr Pfeffer, joins the group. They are able to stay in the Secret Annex for a little over 2 years, during which time Anne writes her famous dairy.
On August 4, 1944, some nine months before the official end of the war, there is a knock on the door. The group is arrested and deported to Westerbork. On September 3, 1944 they are put on transport bound for Auschwitz. Otto Frank is the only one to survive.
He returns to Prinsengracht 263 just after the war. Once it becomes clear that his daughters are no longer alive, long-time helper Miep Gies hands Otto Frank Anne's dairies. The book is first published in June 1947, 1500 copies are printed.

At the end of 1955, the block of buildings at the corner of the Prinsengracht and the Westermarkt, including Prinsengracht 263, are purchased by H. Berghaus Inc. The clothing manufacturer has plans to demolish the block, but later decides to present the building to the Anne Frank House Foundation. The museum opens on May 3, 1960.
Ten years later, the number of visitors has grown to the extent that structural work is necessary. Beams and plaster work are repaired. To establish a one-way route a direct connection between the top floor of the Secret Annex and the attic of the front of the building is built. The museum reopens in 1971.

In the early 1980s, the first plans to expand the museum are drafted. The initial design, presented in April 1989 by the Anne Frank House Foundation, meets with serious objections. The neighbourhood forbids any building in the inner gardens between the canal houses.
In November 1993, the Amsterdam City Council finally approves the agreement for the realisation of the renewed museum. Restoration and renovation begins in September 1995. The project is carried out gradually, so that the museum remains open to the public.

is officially opened on September 28, 1999.