Latest news with #DierenambulanceAmsterdam
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
This European capital is spending 100,000 Euros for installing tiny ladders to rescue cats, and the reason will touch your heart
Amsterdam's canals are more than just a postcard-perfect backdrop. They're a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tourist magnet, and a defining feature of Dutch identity. But beneath their tranquil charm, these waterways hide a quiet threat—especially for the city's feline residents. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the reports, in the past six months alone, more than a dozen cats have drowned in Amsterdam's canals. Whether in pursuit of birds or simply following their curiosity, many end up in the water, only to discover that steep stone walls and cold currents aren't forgiving. Now, the city has decided to do something both simple and revolutionary: build escape routes for animals. The Dutch capital is investing €100,000 to install dozens of tiny wooden staircases—lovingly (and a little ironically) dubbed 'cat traps,' along high-risk canal zones. The project, spearheaded by Judith Krom of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), aims to make the city safer for cats, ducks, hedgehogs, and other small creatures. Read more: While the initiative might sound whimsical, it addresses a very real problem in an urban landscape where nature often gets the short end of the stick. 'It's a simple measure that can prevent enormous animal suffering,' Krom said, emphasising that city planning should consider all lives, not just human ones. A purr-fectly practical design These aren't just planks nailed together. The staircases are being designed by Dierenambulance Amsterdam, the local animal rescue organisation that responds to thousands of animal distress calls every year. Drawing from their data, the staircases will be placed where animals most frequently fall, near parks, residential blocks, and popular walking paths. Each structure features lightweight but durable steps, angled to allow even tiny creatures like hedgehogs to find their footing. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The materials will resist water damage, algae buildup, and Amsterdam's notoriously unpredictable winters. The goal? To make these mini escape routes a long-term solution, not just a feel-good fix. A lesson from Amersfoort Interestingly, Amsterdam isn't the first Dutch city to take such a step. Amersfoort, a smaller city east of the capital, began installing similar staircases in mid-2025. With around 300 installed already, their program has seen immediate results: fewer drownings, fewer rescue calls, and more awareness about the quiet dangers posed by urban waterways. Inspired by this success, Amsterdam's Party for the Animals pushed for a similar initiative—and discovered, in true bureaucratic fashion, that the city already had €100,000 allocated in an underused biodiversity fund. The plan passed a council vote, and installation is expected to begin by the end of the year. Read more: More than just a lifeline for cats While cats are the clear beneficiaries, these staircases may help save lives beyond the animal kingdom. Every year, around 14 people die after falling into Amsterdam's canals, many while intoxicated or disoriented. Though not designed for humans, these animal escape routes could also serve as lifelines in emergencies. Amsterdam's staircase initiative may seem small, but it sends a powerful message. In an age where cities grow more crowded, chaotic, and mechanized, there's something revolutionary about taking time to care for stray cats and urban hedgehogs. Whether or not other cities follow suit, Amsterdam is offering a blueprint for compassionate design.
New York Post
4 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Cats keep drowning in Amsterdam's canals — so the city came up with a clever plan to save feline lives
Amsterdam isn't kitten around. The capital of the Netherlands is known for its scenic canals — so cherished that they've been selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the iconic canals paired with Amsterdam's narrow streets have long put the city's feline friends at risk. Advertisement 3 Amsterdam's canals have posed a safety risk for the city's cats. E. M. Winterbourne – In the past six months alone, 19 cats have sadly drowned in a canal — six of them in the city center, according to animal welfare organization Dierenambulance Amsterdam. To keep their cats safe from drowning, Amsterdam is installing small wooden staircases along the canals so cats can escape if they tumble down and can't get back up the high walls. Advertisement The city has allocated €100,000 (about $116,400 USD) on the initiative, the Independent reported. Judith Krom from the Party for the Animals (PvdD), a political group that advocates for animal rights and welfare, put forth the spending proposal, noting that 'a simple measure can prevent enormous animal suffering.' On July 10, the Amsterdam City Council voted in favor of Krom's motion. 3 Amsterdam is installing small wooden staircases along the canals so cats can escape if they tumble down. Maria Vonotna – Advertisement 'The adopted motion demonstrates that as a city, we take responsibility for protecting the lives of animals,' Krom said. The city will work with Dierenambulance to determine what areas cats are most likely to face drowning before building the steps. The small animal escape routes will be installed at the most high-risk locations later this year. 3 The small animal escape routes will be installed at the most high-risk locations later this year. Agit Erdi Ulukaya/Anadolu via Getty Images Advertisement High walls along the canals have been a challenge for cats and other small animals in the city for a long time, and Amsterdam hopes to provide a practical solution. Maggie Ruitenberg from the local feline information cente, Katten Kenniscentrum, told Dutch daily Volkskrant that the city's cats can accidentally fall into canals when they get startled, per Euro News. 'A ladder can really save their life, as long as there are enough of them,' she said. Amsterdam's feline safety measures come after a nearby city, Amersfoort, announced it will be building around 300 cat traps along its quays and canals.
