Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Holland, MI
Year Listed: 2002
Shoppers walking in downtown Holland.
Credit: Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Two and a half million people visit Holland each year - not the country across the ocean where the people wear wooden shoes, but the town in Michigan that is home to six million tulips and an annual festival that celebrates the town's most beloved perennial. Holland's in bloom in more ways than one. With plenty of quaint cafes and unique downtown shops stretching along a scenic lakeshore, the town is the perfect setting for a weekend getaway or a family vacation. Acres of beaches and parks offer ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, and festivals - such as the Dutch Winterfest and the Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival - are added bonuses sure to please the whole family. Holland was founded in 1847 when the Rev. A.C. VanRaalte led 700 Dutch immigrants to the shores of Lake Macatawa. Today the town's Dutch heritage is recalled by the DeZwaan Windmill, a 12-story, 250-year-old grain-grinding windmill that was imported from the Netherlands in 1964 to become one of the city's most famous landmarks. Fittingly, it sits on Windmill Island, where children can enjoy riding an antique Dutch carousel or ambling across a Dutch drawbridge. With its cobblestone sidewalks, Holland's downtown remains another vibrant reminder of the city's first settlers.
A member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street program, Holland has worked successfully for many years to revitalize its downtown and preserve its impressive collection of Victorian and Greek Revival buildings. The Holland Museum features a collection celebrating the early history of the city. The the 1874 Italianate Cappon House, the home of Holland's first mayor, is steps away from a one-room pioneer home built in 1867. Originally Holland's central marketplace, Centennial Park is now a perfect spot for relaxation and recreation. Avid golfers, bikers, swimmers, campers and cross-country skiers will also find plenty of opportunities for fun at Holland State Park & Tunnel Park. Photo opportunities abound at the Big Red Lighthouse, which has stood guard at Holland Harbor since the 1930s. Locals say that Frank Baum frequented the area and is believed to have written his beloved Wizard of Oz during one of his summer stays. Dorothy Gale might have yearned for Kansas, but the people of Holland, Michigan, know there's no place like home.
