Holland is the closest you'll get to The Netherlands without leaving the U.S.! This beach town was settled by Dutch immigrants and their influence is still felt all over town - in the millions of tulips that line city streets, the busy wooden shoe factory, the windmills and more. But Dutch Heritage is just part of Holland's appeal.
Historic, hip downtown Holland has earned the title, "Great American Mainstreet" for its first-class shopping and dining, creative arts venues and festive happenings. Holland festivities include May's Tulip Time Festival, named America's best small-town festival by Reader's Digest magazine.
Other noteworthy attractions and events include:
Lake Experience
Beaches. Holland State Park offers an expansive, sandy beach along Lake Michigan, two large campgrounds and a beautiful view of sailboats and sunsets. Climb Mt. Pisgah Dune Boardwalk for eye-popping vistas!
Holland Harbor Lighthouse. Also known as "Big Red," this three-story building is topped with a gray-shingled roof and square tower. The twin-gabled design reflects a Dutch influence.
Princess Dinner Cruises. Enjoy a two-hour cruise aboard an old-fashioned Victorian-style paddlewheel boat.
Each spring, hundreds of thousands of tulips bloom at the Windmill Island Gardens.
Photo by Rachelle Welling for Experience GR
Dutch Heritage
DeKlomp Wooden Shoe & Delft Factory. This is the only North American production facility for world-famous Delft pottery and one of few using authentic Dutch machinery to produce wooden shoes. It's also the site of Veldheer Tulip Gardens, America's largest bulb production facility. The gift shop has one of the largest selections of tulip bulbs in the country.
Nelis' Dutch Village. Step back into the Netherlands of more than 100 years ago, complete with authentic Dutch architecture, flowering gardens, canals and windmills. Includes kids' rides, animals, a wooden shoe factory and much more.
Windmill Island Gardens. This beautiful oasis on the edge of downtown Holland features a 249 year-old working Dutch windmill as well a replica of a 14th-century wayside inn, an antique Dutch carousel and acres of manicured gardens.