The Diary is the debut studio album by the Dutch band The Gentle Storm, consisting of composer and guitarist Arjen Anthony Lucassen and singer and lyricist Anneke van Giersbergen. It was released on March 23, 2015 in Europe, and the following day in the US.

A concept album about a love story set in the 17th century, The Diary consists of two discs, each with the same track list: the "Gentle" side of the album consists of acoustic, softer, folk-oriented versions of the songs, while the "Storm" side of the album is made of heavy metal versions of the songs with progressive and symphonic elements.

The story is taken from the album's liner notes.

The album describes the lives of Joseph Warwijck (born in Amsterdam in 1644) and Susanne Vermeer (born in Delft in 1647). They were married in 1666, and lived in Lindengracht, Amsterdam. The story is set in the late 1600s during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th Century, when the Dutch sailed to many far regions of the world; trading gold, silver, and goods with many other territories. Joseph was a young officer serving with the VOC (Verenigde Oost-In-dische Compagnie), or also called the Dutch East India Company.

On December 20, 1666 Joseph leaves for the island of Texel to await the departure of the VOC ship, Merchant. He departs on his two-and-a-half-year journey on December 26, 1666. Susanne begins writing letters to him, in order to make Joseph's long journey more bearable. Not long after; on February 1, 1667, Susanne discovers she is pregnant and instantly writes Joseph to tell him of the news. Susanne gives birth to their son Michiel on September 20, 1667, and then writes Joseph again a few days later to tell him of their son's birth. After sending her letters to Joseph, informing him of their son's birth, Susanne receives a letter from Joseph that he had written five months earlier, letting her know that he is safe and that he is soon departing for Batavia, and then India, soon after. Susanne's first letters arrive to Joseph in mid-February 1668, in Batavia, just before he sails to India. He is overjoyed with the news of learning he will be a father. However, the first ship leaving Batavia, going back to Holland to deliver mail, does not depart until December 1668, so he is unable to send a response to Susanne.

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