De Poezenboot - Singel 38 /G

We read about the lines prior to visiting, so we arrived at the cat boat about 15 minutes before their 1pm opening time. There was only one couple in front of us when we got there. It was worth it because upon opening, the staff allowed in the first six people in line. By the time the boat opened there were maybe about 20 people in line or so. If you like cats, this boat is worth a visit because there are ample cats roaming the cat room. Other reviews are correct in that these cats aren't as friendly as say a cat cafe in Japan, but it's still fun to observe and be around these cats nonetheless. The staff explained how many of the cats are from the street or owners are unable to take care of the cats. They even try to adopt these cats out after they are rehabilitated or acclimated to humans. As others have mentioned, there is no fee to enter, however donations are highly encouraged since the boat relies on donations to take care of the cats.

The idea of coming to a cat rescue shelter on a house boat is indeed one of the more novel city attractions I have ever visited. With all the other reviews, you will have decided to come here by now; you are also assumably also a fan of cats or thinking about adopting one if you live in the area. So here are some tips true as of July 2019: 1. GET HERE EARLY. The tours start at 1pm and finish at 3pm but the lines start around 12.30pm. There are batches of people (10 at a time) allowed in during 15 minute intervals to play and engage with the cats. The batches fill up quickly. Make sure to get here by 12.30 if you want to get in. We left at 1.20 and all the places were gone. 2. PICK YOUR DAYS. We came on a Friday which was quieter (we were told) and see comments above about all spaces being gone in 20 minutes. It is closed on Wednesday and Saturday too. A rainy day might be less busy. 3. BRING CASH. They do not take card to memory so you will need cash if you want to buy any souvenirs. Also, they survive on donations so bring cash for that too. 4. BE ORGANISED. It is a small space so have cameras ready, do not bring large bags into the cat boat as you will not have a lot of room to move around. 5. PETTING. There are advice notes everywhere as some cats have a preference on how to be pet and approached. Some do swipe but playfully. It is well worth coming by if you are a fan of cats.

My partner and I recently visited Amsterdam and when researching things to do / places to see, we came across The Cat Boat (De Poezenboot) we noticed it seemed really popular and had great reviews and this seemed evident when we walked to the cat boat and saw the long queue outside just after it had opened. We decided to go get a drink and come back after a while but we noticed the queue wasn’t really going down so we decided to head back and just queue up as it was something we really wanted to experience. De Poezenboot isn’t open for very long each day (13:00-15:00 and closed on Wednesdays and Sundays) so if it is something you want to do whilst in Amsterdam I would just say queue up and wait as I don’t know if there’s ever a quiet period. It is completely free to go onto the CatBoat but it is greatly appreciated if you leave a donation and makes the cats very happy. The Catboat is the only animal sanctuary that literally floats so it is definitely worth a visit. It is a refuge for stray and abandoned cats and has also become a world-famous tourist attraction thanks to its unique location on a houseboat in Amsterdam’s beautiful canal. We weren’t on the CatBoat for long but it was enough time to see all of the cats and take a good look around. All of the cats seemed content and happy and it was nice to experience if you’re a cat lover like me. I probably wouldn’t go back again as I have now experienced it but if I ever went back to Amsterdam again I would probably drop by and give them another donation so they can continue the fantastic work they do there. The Catboat is a non-profit organization that is financially supported by donors. Their goal is to help as many cats in need as possible.

16 permanent resident cats, plus others up for adoption. They take donations for their work, and sell t shirts and trinkets to finance the shelter. You need to make a reservation to get in, as this is a popular venue with limited availability. Not suitable for physically handicapped, or children

The cats were lovely and the staff were nice too! Only one cat came up to me but it was okay. I enjoy the fact that it’s donation based and you don’t have to pay for entry fee. My favourite cat was the fluffy grumpy one. I relate to it too much.

You can spend as much time as you like. They let you play and feed the cats too. Totally love the concept.

An amazing idea- you can adopt most of the cats onboard, and there are a few 'resident cats' too. Staff were amazing and friendly (to us and the cats of course!!) Only let down was that our slot was only 15 minutes long (and I took the liberty of counting - we didn't even get 10 minutes!)

I made a reservation online and was able to spend time with very cute and playful cats! They also have some cats for adoption! People working there are also very kind and helpful! Highly recommend!