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Beschuit met muisjes (pronunciation: “bə'sxœyt mЄt 'mœyςəs”, lit: “Dutch rusks with little mice”) is the traditional food served to celebrate the birth of a baby in the Netherlands.

Beschuit are similar to rusks but a little softer. They are round, and are prepared by being baked twice. They are spread with butter (or margarine) and the muisjes (lit. ‘little mice’) are sprinkled on top. These muisjes are sugared aniseed balls. They are normally available in two colours: blue (for the birth of a boy) and pink (for the birth of a girl). When a royal baby is born the shops are full of orange muisjes (for the House of Orange).

The tradition of celebrating a birth with beschuit met muisjes goes back to the 17th century. At that time the muisjes were white for a boy. Later this changed to blue. It was thought that the anise was good for the mother’s milk, that it would ease the contractions in the womb, and that it would drive away evil spirits. The name ‘muisjes’ was derived from their supposed resemblance to mouse droppings, as well as the fact that the mouse was seen as a fertility symbol. Beschuit met muisjes was originally eaten only by the upper class. The lower classes would celebrate a birth by eating white bread with sugar on top.

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