Anne Frank/Hollocaust - Netherlands/Germany/Poland

Mr_Wang

A while back I tested the water on a trip to Auschwitz. Ive been so busy but finally put it all into place yesterday and the trip has some what evolved into following Anne Frank from the Netherlands to Poland and then back to Germany and to where she died.

I am filming this and it is going to be filmed out of sequence so please ignore the order of countries. But what I am hoping for is anyone that has been to any of the places you feel would be relevant to this itinerary please add your thoughts/advice. We go in just over two weeks.

Wed - Fly to Amsterdam arrive 9am
- Anne Frank House, school, Gestapo building

Thu - Train to Celle (Germany) then travel to Bergen - Belsen
- Bergen - Belsen Camp

Fri - Travel to Dortmund
- Remembrance day at the camp, visit mass graves and headstone

Sat Fly to Katowice (Poland) Travel to Krakow
- Auschwitz

Sun - Travel to Katowice fly to UK @ 10pm
- Auschwitz

Thanks guys

Ems!

Hi, I've been to Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam ( a few weeks ago ) and also to Auschwitz ( a couple of years ago).

Re Anne Frank's House, I am pretty sure you won't be able to film there. ( I think it was no photos or filming). Also, make sure you book a ticket in advance on line as the queues can be massive (though will probably not be too bad on a wed)
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Online-ticket-sales/

If you need a recommendation for somewhere to eat in Amsterdam, this place was good , it can get busy tho.

http://gartine.nl/menu

Auschwitz was so interesting but really upsetting. Its the sort of place that I am glad I have seen but I wouldn't go again, if you see what I mean.

Greenthumb

I've been to the Frank house in Amsterdam and it has a very disturbing atmosphere indeed. Not a pleasant place to be at all. As visiting the other places on your list, I personally wouldn't bother.

Can I ask if you've visited Dunkirk or Somme or any WWII battlefields at all ?

SnowBelle_2

OP,
I read your previous post on this and remember that it was a documentary to add realism to your son's school project...
Your son must be very proud to have a dad so 'into' it as you.
Whilst I have been to most of the places you mention and agree it is the plan that suits you best,as it is a sad subject can you maybe break it down a bit to lighten it up Instead of going straight up to Auschwitz spend a bit more time in Krakow?
Maybe visit the Salt mines which sound a bit drab but are really very interesting and the castle or cloth hall in Krakow.
And maybe take a boat trip in Amsterdam?
Good Luck with your trip.
Clare

Mr_Wang

Thanks for the info - The plan cannot be moved. My schedule is that busy I simply cannot fit more into this than I already have.

Unfortunately.

I have permission to film in the house and am awaiting replies as to various parts of Auschwitz.

joerugby

To see Auschwitz properly including both camps you really need a full day

elliebobs

I used to live in Germany and have visited Bergen Belsen. It's a pretty incredible place and it has been sensitively preserved; there are photos and exhibits so you can get a feel of what it was like. Just wandering around was enough to put a shiver up the spine. In the area there is a saying that no birds sing over BB and it was eerily true.
It is also now, I belive, part of the induction training for the various armed forces in the area. There was a party from the Dutch army whilst we were there.
For me, the worst thing though, was looking around the nearest town afterwards and seeing the men and woman who were of a certain age and I couldn't help but wonder if they know of it at the time or even if they were active participants; that was really freaky.
It was well worth a visit though although I can't say I'd be in a rush to go again; what I saw there has stuck with me (and this was about 10 years ago).

Also been to the Ann Frank Haus but others have commented upon this.

Bronnie

I visited the Anne Frank house last week. It was half term in parts of the Netherlands and Amsterdam was quite busy with families. We queued for an hour at the Anne Frank House (that was around midday and tbh, the queue moved more quickly than we thought it would)

There is a little kiosk close to the queue selling hot chocolate/drinks snacks etc, that helped pass the time queuing, but it was not as bad as we first thought. Only a limited number of tickets are available online. I left it late to book and the online tickets were all sold out, so there was no option but to queue. Online booking gives a specific half hour time slot for admission, if you turn up late, you lose out, so be careful to allow enough time to get there.

McKneff

I have been to Amsterdam dozens of times and the only place I have not and will not visit is Anne Franks House,
for two reasons.

1. We all know what happened to her

2. Her present family are profiteering from a little girls bravery and death. Distasteful in the extreme.

If you are really interested, read the diary of Ann Frank.

Nuff said.

redpete

McKneff wrote: »

I have been to Amsterdam dozens of times and the only place I have not and will not visit is Anne Franks House,
for two reasons.

1. We all know what happened to her

2. Her present family are profiteering from a little girls bravery and death. Distasteful in the extreme.

If you are really interested, read the diary of Ann Frank.

Nuff said.

What ridiculous reasons for not visiting somewhere. We all know what happened to various inhabitants of the Tower of London and the current owners are profiteering from various people's bravery, cruelty and stupidity, would also cross that off your list of attractions.

Why is reading the book of the diary any different from visiting the house?

I fond it an interesting and moving experience to see the house itself and to learn more about the family, their story and more about the historic events surrounding them.

Mr_Wang

McKneff wrote: »

I have been to Amsterdam dozens of times and the only place I have not and will not visit is Anne Franks House,
for two reasons.

1. We all know what happened to her

2. Her present family are profiteering from a little girls bravery and death. Distasteful in the extreme.

If you are really interested, read the diary of Ann Frank.

Nuff said.

With that in mind lets not visit any war museum, anywhere in the world - Ever.