Jacqueline Sanders-van Maarsen, Anne Frank's Closest Friend, Dies at 96

The Dutch author and Holocaust survivor dedicated her life to combating antisemitism and preserving Anne Frank's legacy.

Jacqueline Sanders-van Maarsen, a close friend of Anne Frank, passed away at the age of 96, as confirmed by the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam.
She and Anne Frank became best friends in 1941 in Amsterdam, a bond Anne documented in her famous diary.
While Anne Frank perished in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, Jacqueline and her family survived the Holocaust, though many of her father's relatives were killed.
Jacqueline authored several books about her friendship with Anne Frank and was one of the first to read Anne's diary, which was published by Anne's father, Otto Frank, after the war.
Throughout her life, she actively worked to raise awareness about antisemitism and racism, earning the North Rhine-Westphalia Order of Merit in 2016 for her efforts.