Celebrating Miffy's 60th Anniversary: A Book Filled with the Charms of the Netherlands

2015 marks the 60th anniversary of Miffy, the iconic Dutch character. In this commemorative year, with the cooperation of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, "Holland Short Trips: Small Towns Just 30 Minutes from Amsterdam" has been created, showcasing Amsterdam and its surrounding cities.

The authors, "auk" (Oak), are a unit comprised of Mayumi Akagi and Motoko Sasaki, who work as freelance writers and editors on books and magazines related to lifestyle. Each runs a shop dealing in old books and antique雑貨, and they create books with a travel theme.

This book guides readers to recommended spots such as shops, museums, cafes, and supermarkets, enjoyable for both first-time visitors to the Netherlands and those who have been several times before.

From well-kept secret markets in Amsterdam to interior & fashion shops, and cafes serving freshly roasted coffee that are currently trending locally, it introduces the latest trends in abundance.

Furthermore, it offers perfect information for those wanting to savor Dutch cuisine, including Dutch soul food, exquisite sandwiches, and cute sweets & food shops that will lift your spirits just by looking at them.

It also covers regional towns just 30 minutes from Amsterdam, such as Utrecht, where Dick Bruna was born and raised; Haarlem, a town with the vestiges of an ancient capital; Alkmaar, famous for its cheese market; and Broek in Waterland, which looks like a picture book. It's a book packed with the charm of the Netherlands, the kind you won't find in other guidebooks.