Holland, Michigan: Small – Town Charms and Nature Pursuits
Holland
Small-town life and a touch of the Netherlands
Holland is a friendly, beautiful city where you can savor every moment. This is the perfect place to see western Michigan’s beautiful beaches, preserves, and old towns. Each one is more beautiful than the last. Holland’s cobblestone streets are full of tulips in the spring, and the U-pick farms are full of fruits in the fall. On a normal day, someone might visit Dutch-style attractions, look around downtown shops, ride their bike to the beach, go to a show by the lake, or go to one of the best farmers markets in the state. At night, you can eat and drink craft beer on the water. No matter what you do, make sure you stay here for a long time. There’s a lot to see and do.
History all around
The Dutch were the first people to live in Holland. Their first homes were log sheds that grew out of the forest. Now, that history is kept alive through the Dutch food, architecture, and events in the city. Go to Windmill Island Gardens and see the DeZwaan Windmill. Also, check out the Veldheer Tulip Farm and Nelis’ Dutch Village to feel like you’re in the Netherlands. You can go on walking trips to historic sites and look at the Holland Museum’s large collection of Dutch art from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The first mayor of Holland and the first working-class settlers are told in the Cappon and Settlers Houses, which are only a few blocks away. The most famous celebration of Holland’s Dutch history is Tulip Time, which happens every year in the spring and is known all over the world. More than 5 million tulips will be in bloom when you go in May. There will be parades and traditional wooden shoe klompen dances.
Four Times of Fun in Downtown
People visit downtown Holland all year because it is both historic and cool. America in Bloom named it the country’s Coolest Downtown. It has streets lined with trees and fun pocket parks, as well as beautifully renovated buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Explore at your own pace to find a unique group of shops, breweries, and bistros that you won’t find anywhere else. What’s even more interesting about Holland’s center is how it looks and what people do there changes with the seasons. In the spring, there are flowers and parades. In the summer, there are perennials and street performers. There are corn stalks and pumpkin carvers in the fall, and Christmas greens and Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of St. Nicholas) shine in the winter.
Looking at the shores of Lake Michigan
Enjoy the beauty of the world’s biggest lake which is located in a single country. Lake Michigan is a beautiful body of freshwater that is bigger than Switzerland and has 102 lighthouses. You could sail, kayak, Jet Ski, or kitesurf, or you could fish for your food. More than 1,500 hectares of parks and walks wind through marshes, wooded glens, and tall dunes along Holland’s part of this beautiful lakeshore. There are 240 kilometers of paved bike tracks, or you can go hiking, mountain biking, or on adventures with fat tires. If it snows around lakes, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe through hemlock woods. No matter what time of year you go to Holland, one of the city’s beautiful beaches is the best place to see the Lake Michigan sunset.