Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's House

Two of the most memorable things we did in Holland was to visit the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's house.  We'll give Vincent the first go.

So, we Green's have employed a strategy when visiting art museums that works beautifully for our family of non-painters nor sculptors.  Before we go to an art museum, we read about the top 5 works in that particular museum, then all hit those five together.  It's been a game-changer for us, because, since we've all seen the SAME works of art, we have something to discuss afterwards, plus we have a specific goal of 5 well-known works to see so we are not overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of some museums, plus we leave with happy family members, as we have not unnecessarily dragged out a wonderful opportunity.

With that as a background, we hit the Van Gogh Museum running.  He was quite a character...and quite a painter.  Although they did not allow us to take pictures of his ACTUAL works, they did have some of his actual works blown up and on a wall, where they DID allow photos...

Now it's Anne's turn:
One of the most memorable things we did was to go to Anne Frank's house.  As a girl, I (Dianne) had read The Diary of Anne Frank, and was very eager to visit the very place where it all happened.  Although the furnishings had been removed, it was still a poignant moment for me to see the actual bookcase and walk up the stairs hidden behind--the very ones Anne Frank and her family used-- which led to the secret annexe, where they hid during WWII.  Also moving for me, which made it seem so real, was the still-visible-on-the-wall growth chart for Anne and her sister Margot. Plus, they had her actual diary on display, which brought tears to my eyes.

The actual steps to the secret annexe, behind the bookcase (that still had the original books on it) where they hid.

Anne and and her sister Margot's growth chart on the wall of the annexe.

Anne Frank's actual diary. WOW.

Probably my most unexpected thought as we were leaving, was the reality that Faith Matters.  Having visited Corrie Ten Boom's house recently, we left HER house with the thoughts, "How very tragic...and yet, what hope in the mist of great darkness."  After our visit to Anne Frank's house, our thoughts were simply, "How very tragic..."     Yet even though there was no hope offered, per se, plus the fact that it has become very commercialized, Anne Frank's House was still well worth the visit, both historically and educationally, as well as to make a story read as a child come to life.