From multi-coloured tulip fields to wooden windmills, Holland is a slice of the Netherlands in the heart of Michigan. It's set on the shores of Lake Macatawa and is brimming with old-world charm. You can attend colourful festivals, nibble on Dutch baked goods and cycle through the rolling countryside.
Things to do in Holland
Every May, Holland hosts its annual Tulip Time Festival, held at the height of tulip season when thousands of blooms fill the streets, flower beds and fields. The town also hosts a colourful line-up of seasonal events, including August's Art in the Park, September's Tulipanes Art and Film Festival and November’s Dutch WinterFest.
Thanks to its Dutch roots, Holland is brimming with traditional bakeries and coffee houses. The iconic deBoer’s Bakkerij sells Michigan's tastiest Dutch baked goods, while the Holland Peanut Store lures in sweet tooths with its chocolates, liquorice and sugar cookies. You'll also find a smorgasbord of Dutch cheeses at local grocery stores.
Just like the Netherlands, Holland has wholeheartedly embraced bicycles as the primary mode of transport. The town is criss-crossed with 250 kilometres of hiking trails that wind through hillsides, lakes and tulip fields. Thrillseekers can take on steep mountain bike tracks in the Upper Macatawa Natural Area.
Over 250 years old, the historic DeZwaan is America's only authentic working Dutch windmill. Today it anchors Holland’s Windmill Island Gardens and continues to grind grain sold to local businesses. Stroll around the beautifully manicured tulip gardens surrounding the windmill.
Getting around Holland
Holland is easy to navigate on foot or by riding a bicycle, but most travellers use a car to explore Lake Macatawa and Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The town is a 2.5-hour drive from both Chicago and Detroit.