Polleke (cat)

Discovery In 1906, during restoration work on the Grote Kerk, builders discovered a mummified cat enclosed between two walls on the church's north side. The cat was removed and preserved by restoration architect M.A. van Nieukerken, who kept it in a glass display case in his home. A note accompanying the cat mentioned that it was shown at cat exhibitions and frequently drew attention. 1916 Exhibition and disappearance The cat was exhibited in 1916 at a cat show in the , where it was displayed as a curiosity. After that, the cat's whereabouts were unknown for many decades. Current display Since 18 June 2025, Polleke has been on public display in the Grote Kerk Breda. The mummified cat is exhibited in a historic wooden box, inside a climate-controlled glass case to ensure preservation for future generations. == Ritual significance ==

Historians believe the cat was used as a building sacrifice—an old ritual in which animals or objects were embedded in buildings to ward off evil. According to the director of the church, Marieke Wiegel, it is unlikely the cat was entombed alive, as its posture and condition show no signs of struggle. The practice is linked to medieval beliefs in which cats were associated with the devil, and sealing one in a wall symbolized protection against evil. == Naming contest ==

In 2025, the church organized a naming contest involving schoolchildren from Breda. Out of 847 entries, the name Polleke was chosen. The winning submission came from a 12-year-old student who was inspired by John II, Lord of Polanen, a 14th-century nobleman associated with the founding of the Grote Kerk. The name also reflects the Flemish heritage of the church's original builders and has a gender-neutral quality in Dutch, appropriate given the unknown sex of the cat. ==See also==