Chestnut tree that cheered Anne Frank while in hiding from Nazis topples over; no one injured

Tree behind Anne Frank House falls over

AMSTERDAM — The Anne Frank Museum says the monumental chestnut tree that cheered the teenage diarist while she was in hiding from the Nazis has toppled over.

The diseased tree made headlines around the world in 2007 when Amsterdam officials ordered it cut down for safety’s sake. Supporters who saw the tree as a symbol of freedom protested and it was granted a last-minute reprieve.

The 27-ton tree was encased in a steel support system, but that failed under windy weather conditions Monday.

Museum spokeswoman Maatje Mostart said the tree’s trunk snapped about one meter (3 feet) from the ground and it fell into neighboring gardens, damaging several sheds. No one was hurt.

Many clones of the tree have been taken.

Frank wrote about it several times in her diary.