Pub tigers in Amsterdam: a very special species

Dear cat lovers, this blog post is for us (yes, we love cats too)! We love our canal city especially for its little peculiarities – and one of them is a wonderful phenomenon: the Kroegtijger van Amsterdam, the pub tigers of Amsterdam.

This special species has carved out a unique habitat for itself and lives in the city’s bars and cafés. It’s an absolute must-do to visit the pub tigers right after our tours. In almost every quaint pub, but also in many hip cafés, there is a cat alongside the bar staff and waiters. Thanks to the purring little friends, there is a cosy atmosphere, the chairs are warmed up and the guests are happy, because the pub tigers in Amsterdam snuggle up close to the coffee- or beer-drinking visitors and love to be stroked.

You can even make out the shadows of cats in the marijuana haze in coffee shops. They usually relax on the tables and windowsills and are not disturbed by the customers rolling joints next to them. There is, however, a small job that the cuddly café lodgers have to fulfil. That is to keep the bar free of mice. As you can imagine, a canal city like Amsterdam is teeming with unwanted rodents. When the lights are switched off in the evening, the mice would be dancing on the table if it weren’t for Amsterdam’s trusty pub tiger. But this way you can crumble with confidence, because the cats have everything well under control here.

Amsterdam is not only a true Eldorado for cat lovers when it comes to pub tigers, though. No other western city has more cats per capita than Amsterdam. Of course, there are many cats in private homes, but there are also plenty of them in the numerous small shops in the 9 Straatjes and the Jordaan neighbourhood. Look out for them on your walks through the city: The cute cuddly creatures sit in many windows of the crooked canal houses and watch the colourful hustle and bustle of the city or doze off.

In which cafés and bars can you meet the pub tigers?

Give cat Jinx a high five in the lovely shop Lykke right after our Jordaan tour in the Jordaan, when she’s not napping in the shop window. Lykke sells beautiful handmade souvenirs, Dutch design and sustainable fashion.

Lykke
Jan Evertsenstraat 81
Mon: 12:00 – 18:00
Tue – Sat: 11:00 – 18:00
Sun: 13 :00 – 17:00

If you would like to have a coffee or beer with a few purring café residents in the city centre, we recommend the following cafés. Kater Wolf, for example, is waiting for you in the traditional pub “De Prins”.

Café De Prins
Prinsengracht 124
Fri – Sat: 10:00 – 02:00
Sun – Thu: 10:00 – 01:00

Or enjoy the live music often played at Café Bax with Kater Claus just round the corner at the food halls.

Café Bax
Ten Katestraat 119
Fri – Sat: 12:00 – 03:00
Sun – Thu: 12:00 – 01:00

If you want to combine cat petting with the Amsterdam feeling of freedom, the best thing to do is smoke a joint with the deeply relaxed Bowie hangover from the Dampkring coffee shop.

Original Dampkring Coffeeshop
Handboogstraat 29
Daily: 10:00 – 01:00

Good news, by the way, for all those for whom one cat to cuddle is not enough. You are not alone! The people of Amsterdam also wanted more, which is why the Kopjes cat café opened in Amsterdam West in 2015 following a crowdfunding campaign. There is not just one cuddly tiger here, but eight. In this special café, you can really get your money’s worth petting cats – and probably not so much for the actual coffee.

Kattencafé Kopjes
Marco Polostraat 211
Wed – Sun: 10:00 – 19:00
Mon – Tue: closed

The cat madness continues

And because Amsterdam has something to offer for all cat lovers, including the intellectual cat lovers among us, one thing is of course a must: yes, that’s right, a cat museum! The KattenKabinet is a small art museum dedicated to works of art centred around the cute pet. Paintings, drawings and sculptures from Picasso to Rembrandt can be admired here. This museum makes it clear: all the great artists loved cats!

KattenKabinet
Herengracht 497
Mon – Fri: 10:00 – 17:00
Sat – Sun: 12:00 – 17:00
Admission adults: 7,00 Euro, children up to 12 years free

However, if the Kroegtijger and the cat museum walk aren’t enough for you, you might find your own future cat on the Poezenboot, the cat boat. The small houseboat not far from the main railway station is a temporary home for the city’s cats and tomcats. The non-profit organisation, which has been running the small animal shelter since 1966, places the abandoned cats in loving hands. Visitors are always welcome and there is also a small souvenir shop.

De Poezenboot
Singel 38G
Every day, except Wednesday and Sunday: 13:00 – 15:00

Have fun discovering and stroking cats!

Love, your Incredible Amsterdam team ❤️