DeLaMar & Anne Frank

On November 27, 1956, a special evening took place at the Nieuwe De La Mar Theater in Amsterdam. For the first time, The Diary of Anne Frank was performed in the Netherlands. Outside, people gathered in the cool evening air, while inside Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard took their seats.

The play was performed by the Arnhem-based company “Theater,” in a Dutch translation by Antoinette Westerling. Director Karl Guttmann chose a simple and sincere approach. Robert de Vries played Otto Frank, Martine Crefcoeur portrayed Anne, and together they brought the tension and hope of the Secret Annex to life.

When the curtain fell, there was a moment of silence. Then came gentle applause — modest but heartfelt. The audience knew they had witnessed something that went beyond the stage.

In the years that followed, the play was also performed in Germany, where millions came to see it. Everywhere, it left a deep impression.