The House of Hope
For the Frank family, their apartment at Merwedeplein 37 in Amsterdam was more than just a home; it was a sanctuary. They lived there from December 1933 until they went into hiding in July 1942. Their hope to return was so strong that Otto Frank continued to pay the rent until July 1943.
Today, the apartment has been given a new and powerful purpose. In 2004, the Ymere housing corporation purchased the property and, in partnership with the Anne Frank House, meticulously restored it to its original 1930s style. They used old photos to bring the apartment back to life, a small act of restoration for a life that was so cruelly cut short.
Since 2005, the apartment has been rented to the Dutch Foundation for Literature. It now serves as a place of refuge for writers from around the world who are unable to express themselves freely in their home countries. The apartment, once a place of quiet hiding, has become a place of safety and freedom. In 2017, the Ymere corporation sold the apartment to the Anne Frank House, ensuring that its use as a safe haven would remain unchanged.
The new life of Merwedeplein 37 is a powerful testament to Anne Frank’s enduring legacy. It is a home that, once a place of fear and confinement, has been transformed into a symbol of hope and a beacon for freedom of expression.
