museum
Kattenkabinet
A quirky canal-house museum of art devoted entirely to cats.
Photo: Gilad Rave / Google
On the Herengracht's stately 'Golden Bend', the KattenKabinet (Cat Cabinet) is one of Amsterdam's most charming oddities: an art museum dedicated entirely to cats. It's a real treat for cat lovers, and a refreshingly offbeat stop between the city's grander institutions.
It was founded in 1990 by Bob Meijer in memory of his ginger cat, John Pierpont Morgan, and has grown into a serious collection of feline-themed art.
What you'll see
Spread across a few rooms of a beautiful canal house, the walls are crammed with cats in every medium — paintings, prints, posters and sculptures — including works by or attributed to Picasso, Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec, the famous 'Chat Noir' poster, and curiosities like a mummified cat from around 200 BC. The house itself is half the appeal, with restored period interiors, chandeliers and a 17th-century ceiling painting. A few resident cats usually roam the rooms.
Good to know
It's small — easily seen in under an hour — and open Tuesday to Sunday. Film buffs may recognise the house from Ocean's Twelve, and it's an easy detour near the Bloemenmarkt and Koningsplein.
Tips from locals
Keep an eye out for the resident live cats — they often wander the galleries.
Don't overlook the house itself: the period rooms and 17th-century ceiling painting are part of the experience.
It's small, under an hour, and best combined with the nearby Bloemenmarkt or a canal-belt walk.
It's closed on Mondays; Tuesday to Sunday, afternoons, is your window.
Film fans: the canal house featured in Ocean's Twelve.
Did you know?
The museum was founded in 1990 in memory of a ginger cat named John Pierpont Morgan, after the American banker.
Its collection includes works by or attributed to Picasso, Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec — all featuring cats.
Among its curiosities is a mummified cat dating to around 200 BC.
The canal house was built in 1667 for the Van Loon brothers, Willem and Adriaen.
The house appeared in the 2004 film Ocean's Twelve.
FAQ
- What is the KattenKabinet?
- An art museum devoted entirely to cats, in a grand canal house on the Herengracht.
- Where is it?
- At Herengracht 497, on the Golden Bend near Koningsplein.
- When is it open?
- Tuesday to Sunday, typically midday to 5pm; closed Mondays.
- How long does a visit take?
- Under an hour; it's a small museum.
- Are there real cats?
- Yes — a few resident cats usually roam the rooms.
Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet), Amsterdam
Herengracht 497, 1017 BT, Amsterdam