Amsterdam’s Little Floating Secret

July 14, 2026

Candilee Jackson

Introduction

During the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, Amsterdam’s city fathers approved and constructed the three picturesque canals of the city’s center to support its commerce and steady growth. “The most famous canals, including the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, were built between 1613 and 1665,”1 and the entirety of the canal system stretches 62 miles. Though a well-known fact among Amsterdam’s residents, the city secret is the floating cat sanctuary.

Supported by local residents, the street cats of Amsterdam are fed and cared for by various organizations and volunteers that provide medical care and spay/neuter services, while the cats help control the rodent population.

The Catboat: De Poezenboot

“The Catboat is the one and only animal sanctuary that literally floats. A refuge for stray and abandoned cats which, thanks to its unique location on a houseboat in Amsterdam’s picturesque canal belt, has also become a place where people want to go.”3 In Dutch, De Poezenboot is somewhat of an irony because most cats hate water, and yet this facility has been keeping their feet dry since 1966. Tourists and residents often catch the canals’ felines lounging on boats, canal walls, and along the pedestrian byways of the canals.

A Little History, If You Please!

The original Poezenboot

“It all began a very long time ago with a mother and her kittens. And a lady who took pity on them.”3 In 1966, the charming Mrs. Henriettte van Weelde found the feline family sheltering under a tree opposite her house on Amsterdam’s Herengracht canal. Having decided to take them in and care for them, “another stray soon joined them, then another, and another … Henriette quickly became known as ‘the cat lady.’”3 As people began bringing strays to her, her home was soon filled with cats, and left her wondering, “What on earth am I do with all of them?”

The answer to Mrs. van Weelde’s problem was sitting right outside her front door: the canal. If people could live on houseboats, then why not cats? “And so came the idea to buy one for them. The first vessel, an old Dutch sailing barge, was acquired in 1968. The interior was stripped and converted into feline-friendly accommodation. And soon the first residents started moving in: cats and more cats. Fortunately, they were followed by people who wanted to help, love, and care for them”3

Within three years, the Catboat was filled to overflowing with needy strays. In 1971, a second boat was purchased, refitted, and ready for its furry occupants. By this time, the residents were involved and volunteering their time to care for and love the boat cats. “The original barge performed sterling service for more than a decade, but eventually had to be retired in 1979. Its replacement was a Dutch houseboat, of a type appropriately known as an ‘ark.’ This was specially fitted out by a shipyard to house cats,”1 meeting the requirements of the volunteer staff.

Gaining Official City Status, 2000 and Beyond

In 1966, the Catboat was just an idea that grew, with residents shouldering the outreach as well as feline care and feeding. With the addition of a second floating sanctuary, the city fathers decided the time was right to make things official, and the Catboat was granted charity status, opening the door for the volunteers to create a foundation. On June 3, 1987, Stichting de Poezenboot (the “Catboat Foundation”) was created.3

The turn of the century in 2000 brought many changes, including a shipyard overhaul of one of the boats, bringing it up to “the legal requirements for a modern animal sanctuary.”1

May 21, 2005, saw the passing of Mrs. van Weelde at the age of ninety. “She remained committed to the Poezenboot for a long time. Still, the work had to be continued and slowly the baton was handed over to Judith Gobets, the current manager. As a teenager, she was already involved in all the work on and around the Poezenboot.”1

As the World Wide Web emerged, De Poezenboot launched its first website on September 9, 2003. August of 2007 saw the first real Poezenboot newspaper, and beginning in 2010 through 2017, De Poezenboot became part of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Rolling On With Bad News

In March of 2006, unwanted bad news arrived: Board members from the District Center and Binnenwater Management notified the foundation that the second Poezenboot must be towed away. This devastating news followed 18 months of negotiations regarding the usefulness of having two sanctuaries. This crushing decision left the foundation caring for the same number of cats, with just half the necessary facilities.1 In the true tradition of volunteers, they soldiered on.

And the Tail End …

De Poezenboot is not only for cat-loving visitors but also for those who wish to adopt a cat. “Once on the boat, visitors are able to mix and mingle with the cats, with cuddles actively encouraged from the more comfortable felines.”2 Entry to De Poezenboot is free, but donations are always welcome. Donations may include not only money but also toys and treats. Monies raised from visitors and residents provide the rescued cats with food and medical care. “We do not receive any subsidy, and it sounds cliché, but it’s true: without your donation and support, we wouldn’t stay afloat!”

 

References

  1. n.d. “History of De Poezenboot.” De Poezenboot. Accessed April 17, 2026. https://depoezenboot.nl/en/history.
  2. Hoole, George. 2025. “There’s a Floating Cat Sancturary On Amsterdam’s Picturesque Canals: De Poezenboot.” Secret Amsterdam. April 24. Accessed April 17, 2026. http://secretamsterdam.com/de-poezenboot-floating-cat-sanctuary/.
  3. n.d. “Welcome At The Cat Boat.” De Poezenboot. Accessed April 17, 2026. https://depoezenboot.nl/en.