Cats museum, Cat art museum in Herengracht, Netherlands
The Cats Museum, also known as the Kattenkabinet, is an art museum inside a classical canal house in the center of Amsterdam, focused on the depiction of cats in art. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, and drawings by different artists, spread across several floors of the 17th-century building.
The museum was founded in 1990 by William Meijer as a tribute to his late red tomcat, John Pierpont Morgan. Meijer displayed his personal collection of cat-themed artworks inside a 17th-century canal house he owned.
The name of the museum comes from the cats that roam freely through the rooms, making the visit a living experience. Visitors can watch the animals move between paintings and sculptures, giving the place an unexpected character.
The building has several floors connected by stairs, so it is worth keeping that in mind before visiting if mobility is a concern. Going on a quieter day helps you take in the artworks at your own pace and spot the cats moving through the rooms.
The tomcat at the origin of this museum was named after John Pierpont Morgan, one of the most powerful bankers in American history. This connection between a house cat and a financial titan gives the story behind the collection an unexpected twist that most visitors never notice.
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