Catland in Asse: Floriane Bonnier at the opening of the living cat museum, near Brussels

🐾 Floriane Bonnier was present at the official opening of Catland, the new “living cat museum” located in Asse, about thirty minutes from Brussels. The museum opened its doors on 12 November 2026 (L’Avenir).

Floriane took photos during the visit at the official opening.

“An impressive visit, I didn’t expect this. Time flies while visiting this museum. A lively visit suitable for adults and children alike.”

Floriane Bonnier

Catland is entirely dedicated to cats: their history, senses, behaviour, and the bond they have shared with humans for millennia. The tour ends with meeting real cats, all from shelters.

A project by the Van Belle family

Catland is the brainchild of Kevy Van Belle, from the entrepreneurial family behind the Choco-Story and Frietmuseum museums. According to L’Avenir, the project took more than ten years of work, two years of research, and a 300-page dossier. “When I was little, I wanted to buy an island with all the cats on earth,” its creator told the newspaper.

From Ancient Egypt to the Aristocats

The museum features 22 themed rooms and 40 interactive activities (official Catland website). The visit travels back in time:

ancient Egypt, with a cat mummy;
ancient Greece, where the cat had to compete with the weasel to hunt mice;
the Middle Ages, its superstitions, and accusations of witchcraft;
the Renaissance, with cat-loving artists and writers;
pop culture, from Geluck’s Le Chat to Tom and Jerry, through to the Aristocats.

Visitors also discover a feline version of the “Sistine Chapel” and paintings that come to life. Games, touchscreens, and interactive experiences make the visit fun for both children and adults. “Our goal is to learn while having fun,” sums up Kevy Van Belle in L’Avenir. An audio guide in 8 languages is included.

Shelter cats

After the museum, it’s time to meet the residents. All of Catland’s cats come from partner shelters and live there permanently (Catland). A team of keepers looks after their health every day, with veterinary care, quarantine facilities, and private cat-only zones away from the public.

Behind a large glass window, their indoor space allows them to climb, hide, play, or rest peacefully. It houses the world’s largest natural cat tree, 8.5 metres high, according to the museum. Outside, a 6,000 m² park allows visitors to stroll among the cats alongside the keepers. A large wooden cat, the “Trojan cat”, welcomes visitors of all ages.

The project is guided by animal behaviourist Anneleen Bru (I Love HappyCats) and supported in particular by GAIA, Help Animals Belgium, and the Opvang Helga’s Poezenhuis shelter.

Did you know?

The museum and L’Avenir share a few surprising facts about our four-legged companions:

cats do not see fine details as well from a distance and distinguish fewer colours than humans, but they are very adept at spotting movement and seeing in low light;
some cats, known as polydactyls, have more toes than normal;
white cats with blue eyes have a higher risk of congenital deafness;
cats also have whiskers above their eyes, on their chin, and on their front legs.

Practical information

📍 Address: Catland · Edingsesteenweg 208, 1730 Asse
🕙 Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 6 pm, last entry at 4 pm
🚫 Closed: 25 December and 1 January
⏱️ Visit duration: between 2 and 3 hours
🎟️ Booking: required online, by time slot, at catland.be
👶 Children under 3: free admission
🧩 Optional: two escape games, reservation required

Opening hours and prices: catland.be/informations.

Other museums by the Van Belle family

Want to extend the discovery in Brussels? Discover Floriane’s favourites on Choco-Story Brussels, the chocolate museum and the Frietmuseum Brussels, the potato fry museum. And don’t forget the free evening at Frietmuseum on 9 December 2026, registration required.

Sources: L’Avenir, 12 November 2026 and official Catland website. Photos: Floriane Bonnier (photos taken at the official opening) and Catland official website.