De Poezenboot is a working cat shelter on a boat at Singel 38 G. We recommend planning around its limited visiting window: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 13:00–15:00. There are no online or email reservations, and entry depends on space. The cats’ care comes before sightseeing.
Visiting hours and holiday closure
The shelter’s official contact page confirms the three weekly visiting afternoons and announces a closure from 25 December 2026 through 2 January 2027. Check that page again shortly before your visit, particularly during the holiday period.
The address is Singel 38 G, 1015 AB Amsterdam. Telephone enquiries can be made on +31 20 625 8794 between 10:00 and 12:00. Those telephone hours are different from the hours when visitors can board.
Do you need to book a visit?
No. The current visitor instructions say reservations are no longer available, including by email. Only six people can enter at once. You may have to wait or return another day if it is crowded.
The organisation recommends arriving in a group of no more than four. Larger parties may need to split up and take turns. Children must come with an adult. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and access can be difficult for people with physical disabilities.
We suggest keeping this part of your afternoon flexible. A short opening window is not a promise of immediate admission. Avoid placing another fixed-time booking directly after your intended visit, and have another nearby walk in mind if the shelter cannot admit you.
How to behave around the cats
Keep your voice and movements calm, follow the employees’ instructions and do not pick up cats or handle them roughly. This is not a petting zoo. Let the staff guide any interaction; a visit should not depend on getting a cuddle or a particular photograph.
We would choose a different activity for anyone primarily looking for an entertainment session with animals. Seeing how a small shelter works can be worthwhile in itself, without expecting the residents to perform for visitors.
Why is there a cat shelter on a boat?
According to De Poezenboot’s own history, Henriette van Weelde began taking in cats in 1966. As the number grew, a converted sailing barge became their home in 1968. A second boat followed in 1971, and Stichting de Poezenboot was established on 3 June 1987.
That history explains the shelter’s unusual setting. We see it as a place to learn about an Amsterdam animal-welfare project, rather than as a canal cruise: your visit is to the shelter itself, not a sightseeing trip by boat.
Adoption and supporting the shelter
Adoption discussions are handled separately from public visits. Read the shelter’s adoption information first and telephone to arrange an appointment. Do not expect to complete that process during a casual afternoon stop.
If you want to help without adopting, the official donation page offers bank-transfer and PayPal options, including one-off or recurring support. We recommend following those direct instructions. A donation should not be treated as a reservation or a guarantee of admission.
Walking from our hostel
We are at Warmoesstraat 87. Put Singel 38 G into a live walking map and check the route before leaving. Allow for the walk and any queue separately; we cannot guarantee a total visit time.
For your accommodation, use code HOSTELAMSTERDAM when booking directly with us and review the available rate and final total. Our booking terms confirm 24-hour reception, bed linen and towels. We do not provide luggage storage after checkout, so make another arrangement if you plan to visit the shelter on departure day.
Earlier PDF and video
We retain the existing illustration, PDF and video. Any older visiting hours or reservation advice in them should be checked against the current information above. They do not guarantee access or interaction with the cats.
