I have recently been rereading Anne Frank's diary, and I've noted she talks about boys being 'in love' with her a lot, and her father also asks her if Peter is 'in love' with her. Does she just mean they have crushes on her? It seems to have a slightly different meaning from now.

by ducky-box
estherke

She uses the word "verliefd" which means "in love", but when used by or about young teenagers, it is more of a puppy love or a crush. Parents might tease their sixth-graders about being "verliefd". In that sense, it is not really equivalent to the English use of "in love".