DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Anne Frank poem auctioned off at 140.000 euros
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Anne Frank poem auctioned off at 140.000 euros

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

8 special spots in the Netherlands you may not have heard of8 special spots in the Netherlands you may not have heard of
 Two Free Guys: 10 free things to do in Amsterdam Two Free Guys: 10 free things to do in Amsterdam
Free things to do in RotterdamFree things to do in Rotterdam
The Konik horses of OostvaardersplassenThe Konik horses of Oostvaardersplassen
The Netherlands four seasons in 4KThe Netherlands four seasons in 4K
Postage stamps celebrating 100 Years of De Stijl: Mondrian Dutch DesignPostage stamps celebrating 100 Years of De Stijl: Mondrian Dutch Design
Holland wildlifeHolland wildlife
How augmented reality could save hidden museum collectionsHow augmented reality could save hidden museum collections
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Nov 25, 2016
Kiri Scully
Raised a global citizen, to an Irish father and American mother, Kiri has lived and worked in five countries over three continents. Fuelled by culture curiosity at an early age, Kiri chose to study Anthropology and Media Communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London, before delving into the world of journalism. Read more

A poem with the last verse likely to have been written by Anne Frank sold for an impressive 140.000 euros on Wednesday at the Bubb Kuyper auction house in Haarlem.

Many of us might remember Anne Frank from our childhood, having read ‘Diary of a Young Girl’, which was published by her father Otto, selling over 30.000 copies in 67 different languages. It was through this book that she became a symbol of the holocaust. 

The story behind the poem

The auctioned poem has a unique story. A Dutch lady by the name of Christine van Maarsen, tore out the eight-line poem from an old friendship book (poezie album) that had been written decades earlier by her younger sister’s best friend. That friend was Anne Frank.

Whilst half of the poem comprises of traditional lines traced back to a Dutch periodical, the last verse which has yet to be cited is thus claimed to have been written by Anne.

The circumstances under which the poem had been written, bring in an interesting element too. Addressed, "Dear Cri-Cri", and signed by Anne on March 28, 1942, nearly four months before she went into hiding, the poem was meant to give Christine encouragement.

However, it had come across as somewhat condescending, and for that reason, Christine did not value it as much and gave it to her sister, Jacqueline, who was indeed Anne's best friend. 

Whilst Jacqueline treasured the poems and notes that Anne had written to her, she decided to sell this one, given that it wasn’t that adored by her sister.

Anne’s unique auction

Another unique aspect of the story is that other such signed items by Anne Frank are extremely rare to come by. 

Since 1942, only four of five signed items have been made public in the last 40 years, according to auction house co-director, Thys Blankevoort. In addition, they have not been met with the same success.

Whereas this poem sold in two minutes to an anonymous bidder for a price that was nearly five times the reserved price of 30.000 euros, a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales with her name written on it, only fetched twice the reserved price.

Furthermore, a series of letters between Anne, her sister, and American pen pals, arguably far more authentic, sold for a little over the same price as the poem. 

Interested in learning more 

If you're keen to learn more about the life of Anne Frank, why not take a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

By Kiri Scully