After visiting the Anne Frank Museum not too long ago, I had to venture Merwedeplein in Amsterdam to see more of Anne Frank. It is in the Rivierenbuurt neighbourhood, in the eastern part of Amsterdam-Zuid borough, where she lived with her family from 1933 until she had to go into hiding in 1942.
My route started at Waalstraat tram stop, arriving on Rooseveltlaan late morning. Right away, I spotted a corner bookshop called Boekhandel Jimmink. A rather historic shop established in 1931, where Anne Frank chose her world-famous diary the day before her birthday, accompanied by her father. The bookshop was called Boekhandel Blankevoort back then. That red checkered pattern diary was ultimately her thirteenth birthday (12 June 1942) present. I was disappointed to find I was too early for the shop’s opening hours. I went back another time eventually. 🙂
Read about it here!
📍Rooseveltlaan 62. 1078 NL Amsterdam.
I made my way further to Merwedeplein, a park just two minutes away …
The statue of Anne Frank in the middle of the green field seemed so tiny and delicate upon sight. Incidentally, this grassy area was mentioned in Anne’s diary as a place where she played with her friends from the neighbouring apartments.
The red marble pedestal bears the inscription: Anne Frank 1929 -1945. The bronze sculpture resting on top is approximately life-sized. It depicts Anne Frank all geared-up with a bag in each hand embarking on her journey probably on 6 July 1942. She looks back at her home on her left, as she is about to leave with her parents, Otto Frank and Edith Frank-Holländer, and her older sister Margot, for their hiding place at Prinsengracht 263. I imagined.
This Anne Frank monument was an initiative started by Gert-Jan Jimmink, owner of Jimmink Bookshop, in 2004. The sculptor, Jet Schepp, who lives in the Rivierenbuurt as well, was then commissioned to make a statue. The Anne Frank monument was unveiled on 9 July 2005 by Mayor Job Cohen.
During the unveiling, Jimmink said: ‘Why is a thirteen-year-old girl with a Jewish star on her coat looking back at her home, standing there? She reminds us that during World War II, 13.000 neighbours were taken away and murdered. Her statue stands there as a warning about intolerance, antisemitism and racism.’
📍Merwedeplein, 1078 NA Amsterdam.
With the threat of increasing anti-Semitism, the Frank family moved from Germany to the Netherlands. They settled here on Merwedeplein 37 – 2nd floor apartment in December 1933. Anne was four years old at the time while her sister, Margot, was three years her senior. The Frank family home is only a stone’s throw away from the monument, facing the Merwedeplein park.
Look out for the four “stolperstein” or stumbling stones on the ground! Such stones were placed on the pavement in front of Holocaust victims’ former houses, aimed to commemorate individuals.
According to the Anne Frank House organization, the former home is inhabited and therefore, not open to the public. They acquired the house in 2017 and the Dutch Foundation for Literature uses it to house refugee writer(s) who cannot work freely in their own countries. Thus, the house is a safe haven and a place to write in peace.
📍Merwedeplein 37-II
During the last Open Day in May, I received an invite! A peek inside this historic house was something I must do. Blog coming up soon.
At the end of my route, I took a seat on a nearby bench embracing the quiet surroundings. I was in deep thought about a certain young lady who had an ordinary childhood; loved riding a bike, reading books and aspired to be a famous writer, but her life ended shortly and tragically.
This was a less travelled Anne Frank walking route. Totally worth 15 minutes of my time.
How to get there?
About 20 minutes by tram number 4 from Amsterdam Central Station and alight at Waalstraat tram stop.
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