Kattenkabinet

Cat Cabinet - art for cat lovers

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If you love cats, this remarkable museum should be on your must-visit list.

Kattenkabinet

Cat Cabinet's interior - The collection of the Cat Cabinet offers a wide look at the role of the cat in art and in culture through the centuries.

Founded in commemoration of the ginger cat John Pierpont Morgan (1966-1983), named after the famous American banker.

This special cat was the stubborn, headstrong companion of the museum's founder, Bob Meijer.

When in 1983 J.P. Morgan died, its owner was inconsolable. To deal with the loss, Bob started collecting various items and eventually this became an entire collection. It was opened as a museum in 1990.

History

The houses at Herengracht 497 and 499 date back to 1667 and were originally built for the Van Loon brothers, part of a wealthy merchant family.

The Van Loons held the house at 497 until 1725 - since then it has seen a number of other notable occupants including former Amsterdam mayor Jan Calkoen and pensionary Engelbert van Berckel, who was visited here by then US ambassador John Adams.

The house was purchased by the current owner Bob Meijer in 1985 and was subsequently restored. He still lives on the second floor of the house along with his 5 resident cats.

Collection

The private collection of the Cat Cabinet comprises paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculptures which show the role of the cat in art and culture through the centuries.

It includes works by, among others, Pablo Picasso, Sal Meijer, Rembrandt and Henri de Toulouse L'Autrec. The museum often works together with the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum to display special works of art.

Location

The museum is situated in the 'Golden Bend' of Amsterdam. It is housed on the 1st floor in a number of rooms with original period furniture - including the ballroom which has a fine ceiling painting from 1670.

more impressions

Kattenkabinet

Sal Meijer - Vreemde inhoud (1909)

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Drawing by Rembrandt van Rijn - The holy virgin with child, cat and snake (1644)

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Donald Brun - Zwicky (1958)

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Edward Penfield - Harper's April/May/June (1897)

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Pierre Loti Collection - Cat mummy (1500 BC)

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Ed van der Elsken - untitled (1950-1954)

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Music Room

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Gia Japaridze - Lenin with his cat (1942)

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Eric van den Elsen/Ronald Giphart - Birgit (2002)

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Rudyard Kipling - The cat that walked by himself (1902)

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Nicolas Tarkhoff - Chat dans les fleurs (1908)

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Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen - À la Bodiniére (1894)

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Ceiling painting from 1670

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Ball Room

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Herengracht 497

canal houses with a history

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