Miffy – 60 years of the little white rabbit

On 21 June 2015, one of the world’s most famous children’s characters, Miffy, the little white rabbit, will celebrate her 60th birthday.

Miffy or ‘Nijntje’ as she is known in her native Holland is the creation of the Dutch illustrator, graphic designer and writer Dick Bruna.

It’s not surprising to find out that this cute little character is popular all over the world. Miffy books have been produced in over 40 languages and to date a staggering 85 million Miffy books have been sold worldwide.

Reaching a milestone birthday is of course cause for celebration and her home city Utrecht is hosting the exhibition ’60 Years of Miffy’ at the Centraal Museum. The exhibition will take place from 20th June to 20th September 2015.

Miffy’s Birthday Party

The largest part of the exhibition is geared towards family visits and young children. The exhibition will make children feel as if they have literally come to Miffy’s home for a birthday party attended by Miffy’s friends and family. They will be able to enjoy typical birthday celebrations such as presents, decorations and cake whilst both playing and learning. Several children’s stories by Dick Bruna will be told in the exhibition space.

The second part of the exhibition will focus on adult visitors; looking back on 60 years of Miffy – how did Miffy appear & how has she developed over the years? This will be told through a display of original designs, books, film and merchandise through the decades together with received prizes and awards.

Where else can you find Miffy?

After enjoying the exhibition why not go on a Miffy trail across the city of Utrecht? Since 2006, Miffy has had her own accommodation at the dick bruna house opposite Centraal Museum (this is currently under renovation and it is expected that it will re-open in late 2015). The little white rabbit also has a square dedicated to her which is called Nijntje Pleintje.  Here you can find a statue of Miffy – the square is located at the beginning of the Van Asch van Wijckskade, just outside the city centre. The statue was created by Dick Bruna’s son, Marc Bruna, and is as perfect in all its simplicity as the Miffy drawings. Did you know that there are also Miffy traffic lights in Utrecht. The lights on the Lange Vliestraat have Miffy symbols in red and green to show when you can cross the street!

Fancy venturing further afield for your Miffy pilgrimage? During 2015 to celebrate Miffy’s sixtieth birthday, sixty famous artists have each been asked to decorate a 1.80 metre white Miffy statue using their own unique approach. Since 4 March 2015 a new statue has been revealed every day. They are placed at top-locations in Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and Japan. On 8^th October 2015 the statues will be auctioned in aid of the charity UNICEF.

Of course you too can own your own Miffy – you can find plenty of Miffy merchandise on sale in the Toerisme Utrecht bureau located in the Dom Square.