Holland (Michigan)

Holland is a city of about 30,000 in West Michigan, on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Understand
It is best known locally for its popular beaches and more widely for its Dutch immigrant heritage, showcased each spring in Tulip Time, a festival featuring countless flowers lining the city's streets.

By car
Holland is best accessed by car, as it has limited public transportation. It sits along US-31 and I-196, making it a convenient trip from Chicago (I-94 to US-31) or Detroit (I-96 to I-196).

By train

 * Route stopping in Holland:
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph.
 * Pere Marquette operates daily between Grand Rapids and Chicago with stops in Holland, Bangor, and Saint Joseph.

By bus

 * Max, Macatawa Area Express (616 355-1010) Serves Holland and surrounding areas. All buses stop at the Train station on Lincoln Ave and Business Route 31 (E 7th Street).  Daylight services runs from Monday through Friday from 6AM to 7PM and Saturdays from 8AM to 7PM.  Between 7PM and 10PM, use the Twilight Route 9 to travel around the city center and to/from the Amtrak train station.  Fares for single trips cost $1.00.  A daily bus pass costs $2.00 and is good for unlimited trips for one day.

See

 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.
 * Lake Michigan, with its popular white sand beaches and tall dunes, is a short drive to the west. Holland State Park is on the north shore of Lake Macatawa and can be reached by Douglas Avenue / Ottawa Beach Road. Big Red Lighthouse, however, is on the South shore of Lake Macatawa, and although it can be easily viewed from the state park, can not be reached directly.

Do

 * In May, the week-long Tulip Time Festival celebrates the region's Dutch heritage with a community street-cleaning parade, a children's traditional-costume parade, a music parade, over 1,500 teenagers dancing in wooden shoes, and lots of activities for the entire family.
 * In December, the two-week Dutch Winter Fest includes a children's lantern parade and a visit by Sinterklaas. Visitors can browse the Kerstmarkt, an open-air Christmas market of decorative booths featuring handcrafted souvenirs and local food, open for three consecutive weekends at the Eighth Street Market Place. For one day, the market is also host to an ice-sculpting contest in which local teams attack 150-pound ice blocks armed with chainsaws, hot irons and delicate crafting tools, and visitors can vote on their favorite sculpture.
 * In December, the two-week Dutch Winter Fest includes a children's lantern parade and a visit by Sinterklaas. Visitors can browse the Kerstmarkt, an open-air Christmas market of decorative booths featuring handcrafted souvenirs and local food, open for three consecutive weekends at the Eighth Street Market Place. For one day, the market is also host to an ice-sculpting contest in which local teams attack 150-pound ice blocks armed with chainsaws, hot irons and delicate crafting tools, and visitors can vote on their favorite sculpture.

Buy
Downtown Holland, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes eight blocks of more than 100 shops and restaurants housed in Victorian buildings. The sidewalks are heated by underground hot-water pipes, making shopping a pleasant experience even in winter. Most shops are open until 9PM during the week.

Two characteristically Dutch handicrafts can be purchased at the DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory, 12755 Quincy Avenue, the only factory of its kind in the United States. You can watch the artists producing both delftware, a traditional blue-and-white pottery originally produced around the town of Delft in the Netherlands, and wooden shoes, on machines that were imported from the Netherlands.

Eat
When visiting a town that emphasizes its Dutch heritage, you may naturally wish to sample some Dutch food. Perhaps unfortunately, there aren't a lot of restaurants that capitalize on this interest. The only one with a relatively broad selection of Dutch food is the Hungry Dutchman Cafe in the Dutch Village theme park; be aware, however, that it isn't open year-round, so if you visit outside the tourist season, you may be out of luck.

There are several places in town where you can purchase Dutch confections, including the acquired taste of double-salt (dubbel zoute) licorice.



Drink
Prior to elections in 2008, beer and wine were not legal for sale on Sundays in Holland. This has since changed, however, and spirits may be purchased any day of the week.



Go next

 * Allegan, southeast on State Route 40.
 * Saugatuck, about 15 minutes south on I-196.
 * Grand Rapids, about 30 minutes east on I-196.
 * Muskegon, about 45 minutes north on US-31.