Can't visit the Anne Frank House. Gutted.

[NeverUseThisName]

We're going to the Netherlands next week. The guidebook advises to book tickets for certain museums a week in advance, including the Anne Frank House.

So I've just tried, and the AFH is sold out until the end of April!

I'm gutted and so will the dc be when I break the news.

We could go into any major art museum in the world and see a Rembrandt or a Van Gogh, but that teenager, the same age as my dc, touched the world in an even more important way than any artist.

I hardly want to do the Amsterdam leg any more, but the rooms are booked and paid for.

Are you sure this isn't just for prebooked tickets?

I believe you can still go and queue for tickets. But it might be a very long queue hence the recommendations to pre-book.

It's advised to book in advance because on the day bookings mean a very long queue. If you really want to go, get up really early, take snacks and join the queue. You could be waiting an hour or two but if you get there early enough you should get in on any day.

When we went we had pre-booked tickets but the people in the apartment next to ours turned up on the day, took breakfast, got there super early and queued. They were in by around 11am I think.

Keep checking every day, I thought the same but more tickets became available. I think after a certain time you can queue and pay on the door.

From tripadvisor:

From 1 May 2016 the Anne Frank House will be introducing a new entry system. From 9 AM to 3:30 PM the museum will only be open to visitors with an online ticket for a particular timeslot. From 3:30 PM until closing time you can visit the Anne Frank House without an online ticket and buy a ticket at the museum entrance.

HTH

At the moment they’re doing some renovation work so you can’t just queue as you normally could.
You have to buy an online ticket and will be given a specific time slot for your visit.
So it’s unfortunate timing, as normally you could just turn up.
However, there are loads of other things you can do in Amsterdam, it’s a really interesting city, and you don’t need to go near the red light district if you don’t want to!

I have just checked as thinking of booking this myself. There are no on the day tickets as the museum is being refurbed. You have to book online with a time slot. When I clicked on the website it said there were 56 people in the queue in front of me!

I really hope you get to go OP because it’ll be worth the long wait. I remember how much it affected me. Fingers crossed for you!

It's just changed. Looks like it's a very recent change. I checked that the House was open on our dates before booking the hotel, and didn't see anything about this on the website.

Oh no that’s such a shame about the refurb

When I clicked on the website it said there were 56 people in the queue in front of me!

Please explain! I didn't see any kind of waiting list - I'd queue if I could!

I was there last week. Due to the renovations, there are no on the day tickets so please don't queue up without tickets as they will send you away.

I did the same as you and was absolutely gutted BUT I kept logging on every day prior to the trip and I found that slots did start opening up a day or two in advance so don't be put off and do keep trying. it might not happen and even if it does, you likely won't have any choice in timeslots but it really is worth it.

I've been once before so could compare it before and during the renovation - yes there is a closed section but it doesn't detract at all from the sense of the place.

Good luck and hope you manage to get tickets.

Oh, I see re the queuing. Just to access the bookings page, not even for the tickets.

Re the waiting list, I recall that when logging on at certain times, the website was obviously busy so a message flashed up saying there are x number of people using the site ahead of you so please be patient. You couldn't even click through to the calendar until that cleared. I'm assuming this is what the pp has seen.

Another thought - are you staying in a hotel? The concierge may have access to a ticket allocation of you contact them in advance?

Thanks, sporting, I'll keep trying.

I should give myself a good shake and think about Anne - never give up and always retain hope and optimism!

I'd go to the stunning Keukenhof instead. Outside in the garden, the crocusses, first daffodils and early tulips are blooming now. Because of the long winter, the tulips are a bit later than usual. Nevertheless, the park is starting to colour. In the Willem-Alexander Pavilion hundreds of different kind of tulips bloom in all imaginable colours. In the Beatrix Pavilion you will find the largest orchid show in Europe.. The fields in the surroundings of Keukenhof are starting to show colour.

What day are you going?

I missed the AFH when we were in Amsterdam and I was a bit gutted but it is an amazing city with loads of other great things to do and see. I’d highly highly recommend the ‘hidden’ church as a highlight:

www.opsolder.nl/

Hi

I hear you, but don't get too dispondant just yet. As others have said you can keep logging in and sometimes tickets do become available. You can also try to get them from the tourist offices when you're there as they sometimes have tickets available too.

I'm an Amsterdam blogger and there's more info on my post here:

amsterdamwonderland.com/2016/06/14/anne-frank-house/

Failing that, there are heaps of other absolutely amazing things to see and do in Amsterdam and I promise you can still have a completely wonderful experience.

Check out www.amsterdamwonderland.com

And if you are interested in the background to Anne's story check out the post on Jewish Amsterdam as there are other moving places to visit that may resonate.

I'm always super happy to help if you have any questions about anything to help make the trip special.

Have an amazing time. I'm just back from another week there and we had a wonderful trip (and I go very very often!)

Sorry yes I clicked on and it said 56 people ahead of you because the server is busy. I have just checked again and it says 72 people ahead of you - that's before you get to the bit where presumably you select your slot and so on.

Don’t give up on Amsterdam; we enjoyed the Church in the Attic
www.amsterdam.info/museums/museum_lordattic/

We've got tickets! 

Thank you for making me give my head a wobble over this.

And thanks, @tracelab, for the link to your blob - it's excellent.

IIRC we once took the train somewhere from Amsterdam, hired bikes and cycled to the sea through daffodil fields. Would this have been Keukenhoff?

Yeay!! So pleased you got tickets and that the blog (blob 😀!) has been helpful.

Yes you probably hired the bikes at the Keukenhof. The weather has been very cold this winter so the tulips probably aren’t fully out yet around Lisse but if the weather’s nice it’s lovely anyway. You can also hire bikes at the beach in Zandvoort or around Haarlem xx