Cat Cabinet - Kattenkabinet - Poezenboot, Amsterdam

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“What is success? A soldier can reckon his success in victories, a merchant in money. But my world is insubstantial. I live in a beautiful, blinding, swirling mist.”
— Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Cat-lovers will purr with delight at the Het Kattenkabinet’s (Cat Museum) art collection of cat statuettes, cat portraits, cat paintings, cat pop art and cat artifacts. For people who love cats, it’s a must see.

For those who are not as taken with feline creatures, the stunning interiors of this 17th-century canal house, with rooms in the 19th-century style, would be the attraction, as it was for me. The ballroom (see photos #4 & #5) has a fine 1670 ceiling painting (see photo #3). The museum is worth a visit not only for its interior but also the views of the garden, which is not accessible to museum-goers.

The houses numbered 497 and 499 Herengracht date to 1667; they were originally built for members of the van Loon family, wealthy Dutch merchants. The van Loons owned #497 until 1725; when it passed through a number of notable occupants, including former Amsterdam mayor Jan Calkoen; and pensionary Engelbert van Berckel, who received U.S. Ambassador John Adams here. The house was purchased by Bob Meijer in 1985, who restored it.

Founded in 1990 by Dutch financier Bob Meijer, Het Kattenkabinet is dedicated to the memory of John Pierpont Morgan, Meijer’s red tom cat (1966–1983). A cat museum would not be complete without a bevy of cats, snooping around the rooms of their museum or taking a nap atop the central heating. Mr. Meijer still lives in the house and these five resident cats are his.

This small museum offers an overview of the role the cat has played, as seen through art, in human society over the centuries. Cat works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo, and Carel Willink are included in the collection.

Open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 pm. Admittance for adults is €6,00 and for children ages 4 – 12 years is €3,00. The Museum card and the iAmsterdam card are not honored here.

Being in Amsterdam, the name of this attraction is deceiving. It is not one of the 'red light' interests. It is a canal boat, cat rescue. They do not charge for you to visit. But they rely solely on donations as they are a charity. The first time we visited they had a really run down boat but managed to upgrade at few years ago.
If you are on holiday and missing your cats, its a wonderful place to go and get your kitty fix. The bonus is your donation will help them to keep going.

For those who loves cats, its interesting to visit the Catcabinet.
The Cat Cabinet is the only museum in the world to feature a collection of objects d'art wholly centered around the theme of the cat.

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This museum is a homage to felines. The museum was founded in commemoration of the red Tom Cat, John Pierpont Morgan, the lifelong companion of the museum's founder Bob Meijer.

The museum's traditionally decorated five rooms consists of a collection of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. The collection also includes works by Picasso, Sal Meijer, Tarkhof, Foujita, Willette, Henriette Ronner, Karel Appel, Leonor Fini, Rembrandt, Steinlen and Toulouse L'Autrec. I particularly enjoyed the vintage posters dating from 1860 to the present.

The museum also has cats who reside here.

Admission € 6.00

Visit the Kattenkabinet, an entire museum dedicated to cat art, with real actual cats wandering in and out of the rooms as if they owned the place. Situated in an elegant old canal house on the Herengracht. The owner even looks like a cat. Get stoned first, some of the art is crazy.

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Another place for cat lovers to visit is this fantastic cat art collection housed in a 17th centuary canal house. Inside the 4 upstairs rooms you'll find paintings, prints and sculptures.

Apparently this collection housed in the museum is unique to the world and aims to provide a detailed account of cats through the ages shown in art. Dating fronm 2000BC in Egypt through to todays China (lucky paw). Cats have been associated with witches & persecuted with their owners but it was not until the threat of rats in Europe they were held in higher regard.

Visit Mon - Fri 9am - 2pm
Sat - Sun 1pm - 5pm
Cost Euro 4.50 (no museum card discount)
children Euro 2.25

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This cat shelter on the Singel canal is well worth a visit for geniune cat lovers. This kittie shelter takes in abandoned cats and give them the love and care they deserve. The catboat does not recieve any government subsidies or support and rely on donations and volunteers.

The founder Mrs Henriette van Weelde took in stray & unwanted cats and became well known as the cat lady. She decided to purchase a houseboat in 1968 to house the kitties. In July 1987 the Catboat foundation was set up.

You can visit the catboat for free and learn about their work and spend time with some of their lovely cats. They sell a few cat souvenirs a birthday calendar for Euro3, a t-shirt for Euro15 & postcards. The volunteers work hard to keep the houseboat very hygenic & fresh. The cats are in no danger of the kitties falling in the water as it is enclosed but they can look out onto the canal & watch the boats pass by. The cats are chipped and fed special dietry food.

They are open everyday (except Wednesday) 1pm - 3pm

The Poezenboot to give it its Dutch name is a houseboat for cats. They are a registered charity that takes in stray and unwanted cats. Entry is by donation (around €3-5 each is the norm). Lots of the cats are roaming free inside and out, they have wire mesh all the way around the outside so the cats can't fall in the canals, and a few are in cages for various reasons.

Please take the time to visit this houseboat as it is for a worthwhile cause.

Housed in a 17th C house cats of all descriptions abound in posters, books, sculptures, paintings, and reality - usually curled up in chairs in that case! Not smelly, just fun by someone who loves felines.

De Poesenboat, The Cat Boat. Boathouse donated for care of orphaned cats of Amsterdam. Along the canal, this houseboat can house as many as 50 kitties at one time. They happily frolick amoung their kitty condos and play with each other. If you're a cat-lover - a definite stop! Buy a shirt or some postcards, you'll be supporting the care of these lovely felines!