Amsterdam's Cat Museum and Handbag Museum

Trust me ok, hear me out (and yep you read the title correctly). Whilst we visited the the wonderful national museums; the ornate Rijksmuseum and the fascinating Van Gogh museum, we also decided to stray a touch off the beaten path.

Y'all know we have our own wee moggy, and are as obsessed as most 'fur parents' are, but the KattenKabinet aka Cat Museum was another level entirely.

The 'museum' consists of three or so huge rooms in a beautful canal house covered floor to ceiling in an eccentric collection of  feline flavoured art. Posters, paintings, statues - you name it, it was there.

And we aren't the only ones to find this unusual collection fascinating.

 

The reason for the museum?

 

Sadly we didn't get to meet the museum muse,  a ginger tom called JP Morgan...

...but we were luckily enough to encounter the museums current colonel. (The best moment of the holiday was my Northern blokey husband moaning because - and I quote - 'it's a rubbish cat museum that doesn't have a real ca... ohhhhh loooooook!' And that's why I married him.)

 KattenKabinet - Herengracht 497, 1017 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands

A short stroll along the canal later, we happened upon (ok, that's a lie, Mr Kiwi was led "accidentally" to) the Tassenmuseum, a shrine to Handbags and Purses. Oh yes.

Set in another beautifully ornate canal house - though this was a whole new level of ornate sumptiousness - the museum consists of 3 floors of hangbags and purses, ranging from medieval dress pouches to iconic Chanel.

All of the exhibits were fascinating, beautifully laid out and full of interesting facts you'd never think to know. There is an intriguing mix of fashion, craftmenshipand opulent luxury to keep any one interested (except maybe Mr Kiwi who opted to "watch the canal boats" outside. Hiss loss, honestly.

Tassen museum Hendrikje: Herengracht 573, 1017 CD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Both museums are fascinating, under 10 Euro entrance and only around a 10 minute walk from the infamous floating flower markets in the central city. Perfect for an afternoon walking off the flavour tasting of Amsterdam's foodie specialities...!