A little white rabbit was born on 21 June 1955, right here in the city of Utrecht.
Born meaning first drawn by Utrecht-born illustrator Dick Bruna (1927 – 2017).
A famous fictional cartoon character for a picture book series with 32 titles, translated into more than 50 different languages and sold over 85 million copies worldwide.
Her name is Nijntje.
Globally, we call her Miffy!
As Miffy is one of Utrecht’s most beloved cultural icons, her presence is celebrated.
A town filled with Miffy bits here, there and everywhere.
Here is my walking route for the best 15 spots for finding Miffy:
- Bruna
📍Utrecht Station Hall 5, inside the station waiting area, next to platform 8 & 9.
You can’t miss the huge white Miffy standing guard at the door. Check out the Miffy gift collection inside this bookstore.
- Blue Steam Train / Blauwe Stoomtrein
📍Utrecht Station, towards Jaarbeurs side, just outside the station’s gates.
This is the famous bright blue steam train from the book Miffy’s Train Journey (Nijntjes Treinreis in Dutch). It was placed here to mark Miffy’s 65th birthday.
Miffy’s train is made of recycled wood and plastic, measuring 4 meters long and 2.5 meters high.
- Miffy Old Train Wagon
📍Stichting Perron West, Westplein.
There is an old train carriage from the 1960s resting on a section of abandoned train track on Westplein’s grass strips.
You will find the graffiti of Miffy(s) gracefully adorning the side of the wagon.
It is a venue for residents, artists, and social entrepreneurs to come together to meet, work and have a cup of coffee.
- Miffy Kids Play Area
📍Hoog Catharijne, outside Mediamarkt & Amazing Oriental.
Miffy in yellow dress supervising the kids’ play area at Hoog Catharijne shopping complex.
- Miffy’s Traffic Light
📍Vredenburgviaduct / Lange Viestraat, in front of the Bijenkorf department store.
The only Miffy traffic light in the world !
- Rose & Vanilla
📍Amsterdamsestraatweg 13, 3513 AA Utrecht.
A local patisserie making the best little cakes but gluten-free, dairy-free and artificial coloring-free.
They serve a tiny Miffy carrot cake for €3.95. It was good.
- Nijntje Pleintje / Miffy Square
📍corner of Van Asch van Wijckskade and 1e Achterstraat, Utrecht.
A minimalistic statue of Miffy on this Nijntje Pleintje, created by Dick Bruna’s son, Marc Bruna.
- Bibliotheek Neude / Utrecht Central Library Neude
📍Neude 11, 3512 AE Utrecht.
First, spot Miffy illuminated on the large-scale lighting installation signage above the entrance to the public library.
Second, proceed to the Kids’ section ages 0-8 on the first floor to locate the statue of … Miffy’s grandmother – Oma Pluis! Apparently. Consider this is kind of Miffy. 🙂
- Round City Bench
📍Neude Square, Utrecht. (De Oude Utrechtse Markt)
A subtle cut-out of Miffy found on the blue metal leg, on one of the round benches, on the Neude Square.
- Miffy Mozaic
📍Jeruzalemstraat 3, 3512 KW Utrecht.
Fact is Dick Bruna’s studio was here!
- Banketbakkerij Theo Blom
📍Zadelstraat 23, 3511 LR Utrecht.
A local confectionery selling round butter cookies featuring various stamped designs of Miffy. These cookies were developed after a special collaboration with Dick Bruna. A pack of 10 cookies for €6.75. For €13.95, up grade them to get any of the cute decorated Miffy tins for a lasting souvenir.
Alternatively, you can buy Miffy chocolate instead.
- Groeten uit Utrecht
📍Zadelstraat 28, 3511 LV Utrecht.
A local souvenir shop selling all beautiful things about Utrecht with loads of Miffy products.
- VVV Utrecht
📍Domplein 9, 3512 JC Utrecht.
It is the official tourist information centre providing local travel tips, selling attraction tickets, book city tours and of course retailing regional souvenirs such as Miffy items.
- Miffy & Bruna Statue
📍Mariaplaats, Utrecht.
A statue that has a two-sided face; the creator Dick Bruna painted one side and the other side is Miffy.
Mariaplaats square is a public place and it is free to visit.
- Nijntje Museum / Miffy Museum
📍Agnietenstraat 2, 3512 XB Utrecht
The museum is designed specifically for toddlers and preschoolers as an interactive play space. Still, plenty of attributes that would tickle and charm any adult minds at every corner. Stop by the museum café for Miffy theme food!
Museum entrance fees apply.
- Centraal Museum
📍Agnietenstraat 1, 3512 XA Utrecht.
This museum houses the permanent Dick Bruna Studio, showcasing his life and his work on Miffy and more. It is the exact Dick Bruna Studio reassembled with his original desk, typewriter, drawings, and personal belongings such as his bicycle.
Do not go past the museum shop without checking the wide collection of Miffy merchandise. Also, find 2 Miffy statues in the garden.
Museum entrance fees apply.
There you have it – my comprehensive list of Miffy spots in Utrecht.
Happy Finding Miffy! ❤️
