Maison des Chats - Hier ist in den Kater en de Kat, Protected heritage house in Brussels, Belgium

Maison des Chats is a five-storey stone house at 1-3 Boulevard Adolphe Max, built in 1873-1875 by architect Henri Beyaert in a Flemish neo-Renaissance style inspired by the guild houses of the Grand-Place. Its pale beige and grey facade has three levels of balconies and windows, with carved figures by sculptor Georges Houtstont and a frieze inscribed 'Hier ist in den kater en de kat'.

Architect Hendrik Beyaert constructed this house between 1873 and 1875, following the regulation of the Senne River and the creation of central Brussels boulevards. The building arose as part of the urban modernization wave that fundamentally changed the city's face.

The house gets its name from the cat sculptures that define its appearance and play with Dutch wordplay. The facade displays these feline motifs clearly, making it a place where animal imagery becomes part of the architectural language.

The building is located near De Brouckère metro station and sits between Passage du Nord and Hotel Atlanta. The central location makes it easy to visit while walking through the old city center.

Two cat sculptures by artist Georges Houtstont adorn the upper gables and appear like playful guardians over the street. This feline decoration is unusual for Renaissance architecture and makes this structure a whimsical curiosity amid classicist formality.