VORM to work on Miffy museum and museum hotel in Utrecht

An iconic hotel. That will be the revamped museum hotel in Utrecht, connecting it to the Centraal Museum, of which the Miffy museum is a part. This will extend the museum experience - even after closing time - and give the southern Utrecht city centre a major boost. "Guests will soon experience a world of art and the history of Utrecht in a stimulating way. The renovated museum and hotel offer an experience of history, ancient and modern art, fashion and design that characterises the Centraal Museum." says Christiaan Groeneweg, Project Developer at VORM.

A new Utrecht icon

This development is a special project where VORM is leading the way. A historic but neglected property and an environment that is at the beginning of redevelopment form the basis. Jeroen van Lier, Area and Site Development Manager at VORM is closely involved. "At a stone's throw from the Centraal Museum, a hotel is thus created that is open to its surroundings and incorporates the museum's collection and stories in the hotel concept and even in the architectural design. Here we will implement a concept that blends museum and hotel. In this way, hotel and museum strengthen each other's international profile and that of the city of Utrecht." Thus van Lier.

The world of miffy

Sketches to expand the popular Miffy museum are still in a planning phase. But it is certain that the expansion by a total of 500 square metres over two floors will go ahead. The municipality of Utrecht, the Centraal Museum and VORM have reached an outline agreement on this. The number of visitors to the current Miffy Museum (2016, formerly Dick Bruna Huis) is growing enormously, with an annual visitor count of 150,000. This plan will double the size of the museum and allow it to reach new audiences. The entrance will remain on Agnietenstraat. "The expansion will fulfil a dream," says Marco Grob, Business Director MG. "It offers the opportunity to further expand one of Utrecht's most important cultural attractions."

International cultural tourists

Research into the Utrecht hotel market recently learned that the city will add 15 to 21 hotels with a total of 1,500 to 1,800 beds over the next three years. This includes the plans for the Museum Hotel. "We want the building of new hotels or the transformation of premises into hotels to take place only in exceptional cases," said alderman Klaas Verschuure (Economic Affairs and Spatial Development).

"It must then be a monumental or special building and a special concept. The set-up of the Museumhotel is an example: this is so unique that it adds something special to the hotel offer of our city." With the Museumhotel, Utrecht can welcome more international cultural tourists.