Amsterdam is home to a lot of museums but I’m guessing you’ve never heard of a museum dedicated to works of art featuring cats, right? Well, you’re welcome to one of Amsterdam’s most “pawsome” museums – The Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet).
About Kattenkabinet
The Kattenkabinet is an art museum in Amsterdam entirely devoted to cats. The collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and other works of art featuring cats. These including artworks by Picasso, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec, Corneille, Sal Meijer, Théophile Steinlen and Jože Ciuha. The museum organizes temporary exhibitions.
The story of how the cat cabinet came to be is quite touching. The cat museum is established in memory of a ginger cat by the name of J.P. Morgan who died in 1983. J.P. Morgan’s owner, Bob Meijer was almost inconsolable and as a sort of coping mechanism, started collecting everything that had to do with cats. It worked so well that the collection became a museum.
The Museum’s Collection
In the Kattenkabinet visitors can really find everything about cats. The cat museum has a large collection of works that depict cats. The artworks on display also show how long artists have been portraying cats and this is mostly thanks to the wide variety of masterpieces from different centuries. In addition to painting and drawing, there are also many images, posters, lithographs and photographs. The collection contains a wide variety of works and due to its quantity of cat images, the Kattenkabinet can be considered a truly unique museum.
If you are planning to visit Amsterdam and you’re also a cat lover, the Kattenkabinet is a museum you must not miss! A fun and light-hearted way to soak up some culture in the capital. Due to its central location, extensive collection and convenient opening times, it is a museum for both young and old. Don’t miss out!
So we paid a visit to Het Kattenkabinet Museum Amsterdam to see what all the fuss was about and also take some pictures. We found it to be a wonderful museum with a lot of objects and artworks centred wholly on the theme of our feline friends. Below are some of the pictures we took.
This is the entrance to the museum. It’s right on the popular Amsterdam Herengracht and can be reached by canal cruise.
Above the stairs are pictures of famous cats and also a picture of the man who started the museum.
On the first floor is this beautiful vintage room filled with objects and artworks centred on cats.
A beautiful vintage room in Het Kattenkabinet Amsterdam.
Another vintage room in Het Kattenkabinet Amsterdam
Beautiful interior of a room in the Kattenkabinet Museum Amsterdam.
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Kattenkabinet Souvenir Shop.
Opening hours The Kattenkabinet
The Kattenkabinet is open daily but closed on December 25, January 1 and April 27.
Monday – Friday
10:00 – 17:00 ||
Saturday – Sunday
12:00 – 17:00 ||
On December 25 | January 1 | April 27
Closed ||
Het Kattenkabinet Tickets and Discounts
Tickets are available at the entrance of the cat museum.
Note: children under 18 are admitted only when accompanied by an adult.
Regular entrance prices at the door:
Adults
€ 12,5
Child 0 – 12
Free
Students
€ 5,- (Students have to show their student ID at the entrance)
Address, contact information and route to the museum
The Kattenkabinet museum is centrally located on the Herengracht 497 and the easiest way to get to the museum is by public transport. You can find the exact information below this paragraph.
Het Kattenkabinet Museum Amsterdam is located on the popular Herengracht and visitors can get to there from every part of the city. One of the easiest ways is to go via from Amsterdam Central station or the Leidseplein. It is even possible to stop directly with a Canal Boat on the Herengracht. If you go for this option, make sure your Canal Cruise will drop by the right location. The following trams will take you to the museum:
From Amsterdam Central Station:
Tram 2, Stop at Koningsplein
Tram 12, Stop at Koningsplein
Tram 14, Stop at Rembrandtplein
Tram 24, Stop at Muntplein
From Amsterdam Leidseplein:
Tram 2 or 12, heading to Amsterdam Central Station, stop Koningsplein
With the widget below you can find accurate advice for the real-time travel times based on your current location. This application will help you when you are not sure which bus or tram you can take from your location.
Het Kattenkabinet Museum on the Map
Het Kattenkabinet Museum FAQ
Is there always a queue at the museum?
No, there isn’t. Usually, the museum may be a little crowded during the high season but visitors never have to wait for more than 15 minutes to get in.
Can I get into the museum with my museum card?
No, visitors with a museum card do not get free entry. They will have to buy tickets.
Can I get into the museum with my I Amsterdam Pass?
Yes, visitors with an I Amsterdam card get free entry into the museum.
How much time do I need for a tour of the museum?
The museum isn’t that big so you will need approximately 45 minutes to do a complete tour.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes, of course! Children love cats are always welcome to the museum. However, children under 18 must be under adult supervision.
We are always interested in finding out about visitors' experiences. Please leave your Kattenkabinet Museum reviews below and help fellow visitors! What did you think of the museum? Would you recommend it to friends and family? Did you have to wait long at the entrance? Include all you want in your review and please be patient as we check all reviews by hand. Yours will be posted soon!
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