Anne Frank gave away toys to neighbourhood friend before going into hiding; marbles on display

AMSTERDAM – Shortly before Anne Frank and her family went into hiding from the Nazis, she gave some of her toys to a non-Jewish neighbourhood girlfriend for safekeeping. The Anne Frank House Museum says the toys have now been recovered and Anne’s tin of marbles will go on display for the first time this week at an art gallery in Rotterdam.

The neighbour, Toosje Kupers, kept the marbles along with a tea set and a book. When Kupers was interviewed by the Museum in 2009, she realized the commonplace items would be of historical interest and donated them to the Museum.

Museum spokeswoman Annemarie Bekkers said Tuesday that Frank was one of many Jewish children who gave away toys before being deported and dying in the Holocaust.