History of the Poezenboot.
(based on a true story)
In 1966, a young woman called Henriette van Weelde found a litter of kittens and their mother on the icy streets of Amsterdam. Taking pity on them she brought them home and devoted herself to her new friends. She let them run the canals of Amsterdam as they wished and each day they brought new friends to share the warmth and love (and food.) As the year passed, more and more stray cats would come to Henriette’s house in hopes of finding shelter but by 1967 the cats were causing too much to handle in her home. Another cold winter was coming and the bond was too strong for her to simply let the cats free. As she mulled over her dilemma with an old friend who lived on a canal boat a though struck her; if humans could live in boats, why couldn’t cats? So in 1968 she bought her first boat and let the cats come as they pleased. They lived happily in that boat until 1971 when another boat was built to meet regulations. By this point the boat had become well known by locals and tourists alike and still stands today as they only boat entirely run by cats. Henriette died in recent years but her fondness for cats still lives on in Amsterdam on the Poezenboot; ‘The Cat Boat’.
History of Meow!
(based on an untrue story)
Little did Henriette van Weelde know, that when she had fed all the cats, brushed their fur and put them to bed, they –untrue of their nature- were not ready to sleep. When she turned out the lights and retired to her own cat-free house each night; the fun would begin. Tiny pitter-patters were heard in the darkness as the cats assembled together. You see, solitary cats are clever enough, but the more you gather together the more cunning the cats become. In 1968, Roxy –an early Poezenboot resident- found a typewriter in a dusty corner of the boat. Bemused by the instrument, a meeting was held amongst the cats to decide its purpose. Together they discovered the machines true nature and would spend countless evenings musing over grammatical errors in their writing. In 1970 the first ‘issue’ of Meow! was released into Amsterdam. A simple sheet of paper, cut into 4 with amusing sentences in cat language on each side. Word of the Poezenboot spread across Amsterdam and many more cats joined to help with process the papers that soon became small booklets. House cats and strays alike would rejoice at each issue and spread it throughout Holland. In 1971, the arrival of the new boat meant they were able to store more typewriters and copying machines amongst baskets and blankets without human detection. By the 80s the zine adopted its title Meow! (which is untranslatable in the English language.) The booklet adopted a more fashionable and cultural vibe picked up from the cities vibrant love of art. Only in late 2010 was it picked up by humans and lovingly translated for the December issue. The perfect way to get into the mind of a cat!
History of Maddy and the Cats
Hello, time for some honesty. Which really isn’t as fun is it? Our real story begins when I (Maddy) voyaged to Amsterdam to take in the atmosphere and do as much art as my fingers would let me. Whilst there, the number of cats who sat sprawled out in shop windows or on pub tables astounded me. Sleep deprived and ever so slightly under-washed I arrived back in England, ready to research exactly why there were so many cats. After some sleep, that is. I somewhat came across the story of the real Poezenboot at random. After establishing it was a real thing an not just some wonderful dream, my mind instantly began to tick about what a society of cats would get up to. The basis for my zine was created and the rest…is history! (told you it wasn’t as fun) This blog was built with the intention of promoting my hand made fanzine called Meow! for people who just love cats. I think we’ve all at some point wished we were the one lying in a warm basket by the fire whilst they go off to a hard days work.
My zine as well as other treats will be sold on the 17th of December 2010 at UCA Canterbury, in the Kirk Lecture Threatre at 12:30 – 2:00. Please come along and bring a coupla pounds. :]
All cats welcome!
