Amsterdam: Anne Frank Walk & VR Annex Tour with Drink

Summary

Walk Anne Frank’s path in Amsterdam then step inside her world with a VR tour and a quiet drink

You’ll walk through Amsterdam tracing Anne Frank’s journey—past canals and Westerkerk—before pausing at her statue and hearing stories that stay with you. Then sit down for a drink and slip on a VR headset to explore the Secret Annex as it once was: furnished and silent except for your own footsteps. It feels close—closer than I expected.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the clatter of bikes—so many, weaving past us as we met by the chess statue on Max Euwe Plein. Our guide, Jeroen, had this way of talking like he’d lived every story himself. He pointed out the old canal houses as we walked, their windows flickering with reflections from the water. I kept thinking about how Anne Frank must’ve seen these same streets, probably more quietly than we did, but still—those same bricks underfoot. At Johnny Jordaan square, someone was singing softly (not part of the tour, just Amsterdam doing its thing), and for a second it felt like time folded over itself.

We stopped at Westerkerk and Jeroen told us Rembrandt was buried there—he said it almost offhandedly, but you could tell he cared. There’s a little statue of Anne nearby; people left flowers and notes tucked around her feet. I didn’t expect to feel so much standing there. The Anne Frank House itself looks ordinary from outside, which is strange when you know what happened inside. We didn’t go in (the tour doesn’t start there), but Jeroen explained how the Franks hid for two years behind that bookcase. I tried to picture it—the fear mixed with hope. It’s hard to get your head around.

After all that walking (honestly, my feet were grateful), we ended up in this cozy café near the canals. They handed out VR headsets after we ordered drinks—I went for coffee because it just felt right—and suddenly I was “inside” the Secret Annex. The rooms had furniture in them, not empty like in real life now. You could almost hear footsteps or whispers if you let yourself drift a bit. It was weirdly intimate; no crowds jostling you or anything—just you and those silent rooms.

I still think about that view from the attic window in VR—patches of sky above rooftops, so close but out of reach. When I took off the headset, it took me a second to come back to 2024 Amsterdam with its laughter and clinking glasses all around. If you can’t get tickets to the real Anne Frank House or just want something quieter and more personal, this day trip through Amsterdam with the virtual reality tour is… well, it lingers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Anne Frank's route and VR house visit

• Start at Max Euwe Plein statue
• Visit Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
• Walk over Amsterdam's longest canal
• Pass Johnny Jordaan square
• See Westerkerk church
• Stop at Anne Frank statue
• View Anne Frank House exterior
• Enter Anne Frank House via VR tour
• Enjoy drink at Cafe Spanjer and Van Twist

Top questions

Does this tour include entry to the actual Anne Frank House?

No, entry to the physical Anne Frank House is not included; instead, you experience it through an immersive virtual reality tour at a café nearby.

Where does the Anne Frank walking tour start?

The tour starts at Max Euwe Plein beside the statue of Dutch chess grandmaster Max Euwe.

Is there a guide during this Amsterdam day trip?

Yes, a local guide leads the walking tour through key locations connected to Anne Frank’s story.

What is included in the virtual reality part?

You’ll use VR headsets in a café to explore a detailed recreation of the Secret Annex as it looked during WWII—with furniture intact.

Are drinks included on this private Anne Frank tour?

Yes, coffee, tea, soda or even beer are included during your VR experience at the café.

Can I book this as a private group?

Yes, private tours are available upon request for this experience.

How long is the walk before reaching the café?

The walk takes about 20 minutes along Amsterdam’s longest canal plus stops at historical sites before arriving at the café for VR.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to both starting point and end location.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walking tour through central Amsterdam stopping at places like Westerkerk and Johnny Jordaan square before reaching the café for an immersive virtual reality experience of Anne Frank’s Secret Annex—with coffee, tea or another drink included before heading back out into city life.