The KattenKabinet story
The museum
In a canal house on the Golden Bend, see how many different forms a cat can take in art.
A house with a history
The houses at Herengracht 497 and 499 were built in 1667 for brothers Willem and Adriaen van Loon. Later residents included Amsterdam mayor Jan Calkoen and diplomat Engelbert François van Berckel. A restoration in 1985 prepared the house for its next chapter.
From house cat to museum
Bob Meijer opened the KattenKabinet in 1990 in memory of his ginger cat, John Pierpont Morgan. That personal tribute grew into a collection of paintings, prints, posters, photographs and sculpture, all centred on the cat.
Look beyond the frame
The rooms show cats as companions, symbols and muses. Some works reward a second look, while others are recognisable from across the room. Cats also live at the museum. You might meet one during your visit.
