Parenting in Holland

The Dutch eat 'beschuit met muisjes' to celebrate the birth of their baby. These rusks with a bit of butter and sprinkling of sugar coated aniseed, are given to visitors or taken to work. They have been a tradition since the 17th century.

Aniseed was traditionally given to stimulate the mother's first milk. There are differing stories as to the origin of the name which means 'rusks with little mice'. I like the one which says that the aniseed look like little mice with tails. The other story will have you believe that it's the sugar coated seeds which are shaped like mouse droppings. Not too appealing !

White and pink muisjes are for girls and blue and white are for boys. Orange muisjes were eaten in 1938 to celebrate the birth of Queen Beatrix, and again in 2003 to celebrate the birth of crown princess Catharina-Amalia.

What to make for small children ?

These rusks are very messy, so choose one of the following ideas for small children to take to the crèche or school to celebrate the birth of their baby brother or sister:

• Bread sticks dipped in butter and sprinkled with beschuit
• Small chocolate biscuits, melted slightly and push some beschuit into them and leave to harden again
• Small fairy cakes with icing and beschuit