Prinsengracht 263 sold

Maurits Wessels, the new owner, was a member of an extensive family whose registration as Jewish persons had been succesfully removed through a so-called Calmeyer procedure.^[1] As a result, he regained control of his assets and was able to resume his business.^[2] In February 1943 he already bought several properties in the Pijp and Kinkerbuurt districts. Anne Frank noted in her diary version dated 27 February 1943, but rewritten in 1944, that one morning "the new owner" came to inspect his purchase.^[3] If her dating is correct, Wessels was at best an aspiring owner, he ultimately bought the property on 22 April 1943.^[4]

Anne writes that the new owner viewed the building together with an architect and Jo Kleiman. According to her, Kleiman pretended to have left the key to the connecting door - between the front house and the hall near the bookcase - at home.^[3] It is remarkable that on the floor below the architect did not see that there was a staircase leading to that hallway. In any case, it does not appear that Wessels had any actual plans for the building. Apparently it was intended as just an investment.