Catboat, Floating cat sanctuary in Amsterdam-Centrum, Netherlands
The Catboat is a converted houseboat on Amsterdam's canals that shelters up to 50 cats at any given time. The vessel serves as a permanent base for medical care, feeding, and daily operations for rescued animals.
Henriette van Weelde founded this floating sanctuary in 1966 by converting a canal vessel into a shelter for stray cats. The project grew from personal compassion into a recognized institution in the city.
The shelter reflects how Amsterdam cares for stray animals by placing them in the community rather than isolating them. You experience a working space where locals and visitors meet to support cats in need.
Visits require advance booking through the official website. The interior spaces are quite tight, so be prepared for narrow stairs and low ceilings when moving around the converted boat.
Several cats on the boat have lived their entire lives on water and have adapted to the constant motion of the vessel. These water-born residents behave differently from their land-based counterparts.
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