Love Mouse & Mice

Mouse carrying a tray with "beschuit met muisjes", a Dutch treat when a baby is born. Painting by s t u d i o L e n n A r t www.studiolennart.com Muisjes are made of aniseeds with a sugared and coloured outer layer. Muisjes, meaning "little mice" in Dutch, are named because the anise seed sprinkles are shaped like little mice, with the stem of the anise seed resembling a tail. As early as the 17th century, the parents of a newborn baby gave away beschuit with a layer of butter and muisjes to the baby's visitors. This tradition continues today. Beschuit with Muisjes are given to the baby's visitors at home, and are brought by older siblings to share at school; or are presented to colleagues at work. Before the 20th century, visitors to a newborn baby got only white muisjes, then this changed to a mix of pink and white muisjes for both boys and girls. With the introduction of blue muisjes, pink muisjes are now reserved for baby girls only.