Some Amsterdam news flashed across the globe this week with the sad story that Anne Frank's chestnut tree has blown over in a storm. The 150 year old tree didn't actually belong to the Frank family, but it is written about in her diary as somthing that gave her hope.

When I visited the Anne Frank museum earlier this year I'd hoped to get a look at the tree, but the highest room of the house was blocked off by perspex so you could see into the room but not out of the window.

The Anne Frank tree has apparently been condemned for some time, held up only by metal supports and campaigning voices. The tree had been badly rotting and was perhaps lucky to have survived as long as it did.

So, what now for the space behind the building? Plant a new one, I say. Thankfully clones exist of the original tree, so it should be easy enough.