Ode to Henriëtte van Weelde | The cat lady of Amsterdam

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Dear Henriëtte van Weelde,

It started in 1966, when you found a mother cat with kittens, next to a tree on the Herengracht. With a warm heart you took these kitty critters into your home. Not long after, you offered shelter to other cats as well, and so you soon earned the nickname "cat lady".

Your home, complete with a roof terrace for the cats, soon proved too small for the growing cat family. From your window, looking out over the canal, you got the great idea to buy a boat and convert it into a cat sanctuary. In 1968 a tjalk was purchased and with it the first floating cat shelter was a reality. The number of cats grew, as did the number of volunteers.

In 1979 the original tjalk was replaced by an ark, and in 1987 The Catboat Foundation was established. Thanks to your tireless efforts and the help of many volunteers, thousands of cats were lovingly taken in and cared for, and a suitable home was again found for them or they were allowed to live permanently on the boat.

According to sources, you were present daily and did not refuse a single cat. These efforts were rightly rewarded with a silver medal of honor from Queen Juliana and an award from the city of Amsterdam. Until your death on May 21, 2005, at the age of 90, you remained closely involved with the Cat Boat. I admire your enormous dedication.

Meanwhile, your old ark has been demolished and a brand new pussycat boat arrived in 2023. With it, hopefully many more Amsterdam cats can be taken care of in the coming years and find a loving home through the Catboat. This cannot be done without the cat ladies of today; and that is why this ode is also addressed to all the women who dedicate themselves with heart and soul to the care of animals in Amsterdam.