De Zwarte Kat

Gerrit Willemsz. Kat, a name whispered on the Amstel’s breeze, forever linked to De Zwarte Kat. This quiet hamlet, nestled between Ouderkerk and Nes aan de Amstel, holds a story as rich as the dark beer once served within its namesake inn. De Zwarte Kat, once known as Weteringbrug, takes its name from a bygone era. In 1646, Gerrit Willemsz. Kat acquired a café here. A gevelsteen, a stone sign, bearing the image of a black cat and the inscription “In de Kat” marked the establishment. Over time, the hamlet itself adopted this feline moniker. De Zwarte Kat became synonymous with the inn. Imagine the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation. Travelers on the Simon Koolenvaart, a canal leading westward, and those traversing the Amsteldijk, crossed by a bridge at this point, would seek refuge in “De Kat”. The inn’s story continued through the centuries, eventually closing in 1940 only to be resurrected after the war a few houses down the road. The inn offered a “formidable view” of the Amstel River. Patrons enjoyed watching boats glide by from the waterside terrace. Or they found a quiet spot in the sheltered back garden overlooking the countryside. Sadly, in 2017, after 41 years under the ownership of Jack van den Busken, De Zwarte Kat closed its doors for good. The changing landscape of the area, including the emergence of new dining establishments at a nearby golf course, made it difficult to sustain the business. Though the building itself may be gone, the spirit of De Zwarte Kat, the black cat, lingers. Its name, a whisper on the Amstel’s breeze, reminds us of a time when a simple gevelsteen could shape the identity of a place.