From the tulips in Holland to the gourmet market in Grand Rapids, everything seems to be growing in western Michigan.
I found nothing but cloudless skies and sunny optimism when I spent four days visiting Holland, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids in April. Though each of these cities has a distinct culture and visitor appeal, they all share a common upbeat energy and enthusiastic hospitality.
If your group could use some cheer in its travels, a trip through this triangle of western Michigan cities is sure to deliver an infusion of fun.
Going Dutch in Holland
There is no more festive time of year to visit Holland than Tulip Time, the annual festival that attracts more than 500,000 visitors to this town of 36,000 residents in early May. My visit took place just a few days before the festival was scheduled to begin, but already, tulips were blooming, and there was a palpable excitement in the air.
Holland was founded by a group of Dutch immigrants in the 1840s, and today, the city still celebrates its Dutch heritage in a number of ways. Groups should begin their time in Holland with a visit to Windmill Island Gardens, a beautiful public park on the banks of the Macatawa River.
The staff at the park plants more than 100,000 tulips each year, which are intended to be in peak bloom during Tulip Time. But at any time between April and October, groups will enjoy touring the authentic 18th-century Dutch windmill that was shipped from the Netherlands and carefully reconstructed at the park. Visitors learn about the windmill’s history and can watch interpreters use the mill to grind grain and cornmeal inside. The windmill is 18 stories high and offers extraordinary views of Holland from the top.
For a deeper look at Holland’s history and Dutch heritage, groups should stop next at the Holland Museum near downtown. Located in a former 1915 post office, the museum has more than 1,200 artifacts from Holland’s history and a timeline that tells the story of the town’s growth from an early Dutch settlement to the present day. Upstairs, the museum features a small but impressive collection of Dutch paintings, furniture, sculpture and china from the 17th through the 19th centuries.
Two commercial establishments in town offer visitors a way to take home elements of Holland’s Dutch culture. Veldheer Tulip Gardens features more than 800 varieties of tulips growing on 83 acres, with a near-endless selection of tulip bulbs for sale. Visitors can also buy wooden shoes and handmade Delftware, the famous blue-and-white china of Holland, in stores at the site.
Another family-owned company, Nelis’ Dutch Village, is a small theme park that re-creates elements of the classic Dutch experience for visitors. Highlights include Dutch music and dancing, as well as high-end wooden shoe and Delftware shops, and authentic Dutch food.
