A Cute Detour in Utrecht: Miffy Museum Visit
A quick detour to Utrecht led us to the most heart-melting destination: the Miffy Museum! From original sketches to nougat theft—yes, really!
We got to travel to the Netherlands because I was invited to my friend’s wedding—and on the way back, we made a fun pit stop in Utrecht! I was aiming for the Miffy Museum. In the U.S., we don’t see much of Miffy, but here in the Netherlands she’s like the Dutch Hello Kitty, a beloved children’s book character known all over the world—I remember my mom reading those books to me when I was little.
Utrecht is the hometown of Miffy’s creator, Dick Bruna, who continued creating Miffy stories here throughout his life.
I actually visited this museum about 15 years ago, but most of the memories have faded, so I asked my husband to revisit with me!
It just so happened we went the day after Miffy’s 70th birthday (wow, she’s a proper grandmother now!), and since it was Sunday, the place was buzzing with families.
The interactive exhibits that bring Miffy’s storybook world to life are adorable—kids absolutely loved it!
The highlight for me was seeing original illustrations by Dick Bruna! My husband and I marveled at his use of symmetrical compositions and geometric character designs.
There were Miffy books published around the world hanging from the ceiling, plus shelves full of colorful merchandise in the museum shop—I found myself breathing a constant, “So cute!”
And yes, I bought another souvenir (again 😂): a book titled miffy is naughty. It’s about Miffy shoplifting! I thought, “A children’s book about shoplifting? That’s wild—and I have to have it!” Even the sweetest characters can have a mischievous side, and that makes me love Miffy even more!