The iconic Chestnut tree that Anne Frank would see from her hiding place window succumbed to high winds and rain. Its partially rotted trunk had been reinforced with steel braces that were thought strong enough to help the tree last for a few more decades, but they failed.

Sad.

Do you think they will plant another?

Oh, I'm sure they will plant another one. It just won't be the same one.

What a pity. I visited the Anne Frank House in May 2010 and I remember the discussions about how long it might last. I believe this was the tree that Anne referred to as the only spot of green she could see from her windows.

tC

Planting another may or may not happen. The old tree was on private property.

"It just won't be the same one." There are several clones of the Anne Frank tree that have been planted in Amsterdam, elsewhere in Europe and in the U.S. If a tree is planted, I hope they plant a clone of the original.

Jean - I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I hope so too- it would be the right thing to do.

Funny but I posted about this and only got one reply.

I sometimes wonder why I bother.

Oh and there is only one confirmed tree which is not a clone but a cutting from this chestnut - the others have not been confirmed as such.
There are currently no plans to replant.

That is interesting hetismij. Before I posted I assumed that you already would have done so but didn't see your name in a quick scan of that day's posts. Perhaps I should have looked further. Keep on posting, you are our source for all things Dutch - our trip a couple of years ago (has it really been that long?) would have been diminished without your insights when we were in the planning stage.

You probably posted too fast, hetismij. We are very sluggish sometimes.

Anyway, I am not worried about the tree. Things change, the planet moves on. I'm sure that Anne Frank would not want to think that we are still obsessing about her tree more than 60 years later. It is just a detail.

It is a key component to her story, so it has some poignancy. I had not realized unitl today that it was a neighbour's tree. The lady who runs the house was interviewed, they may replant. She also said that they never have sold any parts of the tree...seems one auction was taken down, but I assume there will be more.