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Tag Archives: Holland

Strolling Through Windmill Island Gardens

29 May 20233 May 2025

Traveling to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Time Festival, I scheduled time to visit Windmill Island Gardens with its fields of tulips and authentic Dutch windmill.  This year, the festival opened on Saturday, May 4th and continues to Sunday, May 12th, 2024.

Windmill Island is one of three islands on Holland’s Macatawa River.  To reach the island’s gardens, visitors must drive over the causeway before reaching the 36 acres of beautiful flowers.  As soon as I had arrived on the island I immediately noticed the adorable Dutch village, windmill and never-ending fields of tulips.  Planted in late-September, these colorful tulips begin to bloom in late April and can be enjoyed as late as June.

The park opened the spring of 1965, following the reconstruction of De Zwaan windmill.  The restoration project was authorized by the Dutch government as the structure was one of the most damaged windmills during World War II.  De Zwaan is Dutch for Graceful Bird or Swan.

To avoid the long lines to enter De Zwaan, I made my first stop at the Amsterdam Street Organ known as the “Four Columns”.  Street barrel organs were popular in Amsterdam during the late 1800s bringing the most up-to-date music to local neighborhoods. Children would often drop coins in a box as a token of appreciation for the street musician who was required to purchase a permit to operate.  With the advent of the radio, the number of street organs dwindled.

Passing through acres of tulips, I arrived at De Zwaan, the only Holland windmill in the United States.  Originally from the town of Vinkel, Netherlands, this once damaged mill was brought over to Michigan on the Prins Willem van Oranje in 1964.  It took six months to reconstruct the mill and was dedicated the same year.  In 2018, De Zwaan was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

De Zwaan’s construction was purposefully thought out to maximize the productivity of flour.  From the slanted ground floor to drain water to the careful design of the blades to utilize wind power, the windmill has several features that are essential to grinding the grain.

Standing 125 feet tall, I climbed the five stories of the windmill, each having its own unique  function for the production of flour.  At the  ground level are double doors where wagons would drop off the bagged wheat.  From this level, the wheat was hoisted up to the top level by a pulley system so it could be processed.  The miller spent most of his time on the top floor, so if he needed to communicate with the outside world, he would write a note and place it in a wooden shoe.  He would lower the shoe to the first floor waiting for  the next visitor to read it.

The second and third floors were used for the packing and storing of flour.  At De Zwaan, there is a display of the mechanical parts that make up a windmill with an explanation of how they work.

The fourth floor is where the miller can regulate the grinding of the flour by loosening or tightening the connection of the millstones.  This determines the fineness of the flour.

On this level, Norwegian fir beams and wooden timbers replace the brick interior, making it a more homey space.  If you look closely, you can see the boards are marked with Roman numerals so that the windmill would be much easier to reassemble.

Also known as the gallery floor, the fourth level offers spectacular views of the tulip fields.

The fifth floor is where the millstones are housed and where the miller would spend most of his time.  The top of the pulley system is located here which brings up the grain and sends down the messages.  When the blades of the windmill are turning, the grinding process begins as the gear in the center turns the millstones.   I was fascinated by the whirring of the machine and the soothing sound of the grindstones.

A book about De Zwaan has been written by author Alisa Crawford.  She began milling at De Zwaan in 2002 and several years later, applied for a training program in the Netherlands.  The Dutch Mill Society approved her application and not only would she learn the craft of milling, but would be required to study the trade in Dutch.  Not only was Crawford the first Dutch-certified miller in the United States, she became the first woman to be admitted into the Dutch Miller’s guild.  Today, Alisa is the miller at De Zwaan, milling over 10 to 12 thousand pounds of wheat per year.

After touring De Zwaan, I strolled through what seemed like acres of tulips.  Over three thousand are registered at the park and were labeled by variety, of which there as many as one hundred and fifty.   Surprisingly, tulips originated in central Asia and were brought to Europe in the mid 1500s. In the 1600s, tulips were so valuable that they were as expensive as homes.  Some historians credit the popularity of the tulip as the reason for the 1637 economic crash.

Inside the village was a recreation of a Dutch town with its colorful windmills, modest houses, cobblestone streets and charming canals.  The backdrops show endless grasslands with cloudy skies and rolling hills.  Many small towns in the Netherlands started out as fortresses and have a large number of historical monuments to explore.

My last stop was the gift shop where I picked up a few pairs of wooden shoes and stroopwafels, a chewy waffled wafer cookie with a caramel filling.  The first time I had tasted these yummy pastries was when I stayed at the Schiphol Sheraton Airport Hotel and they would leave them on my pillow each night.  I was so excited to find them at Windmill Island Gardens and took me back to the cobblestone streets  of Amsterdam.

Have you visited the Windmill Island Gardens or attended the Tulip Time festival in Holland, Michigan?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments below.  Many thanks for reading about my fun-filled day at Windmill Island Gardens and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Scroll down for more photos of the gorgeous tulips at Windmill Island Gardens!

What to See and What to Do:  

Windmill Island Gardens
1 Lincoln Avenue
Holland, Michigan  49423
Telephone: 616 355 1030

  • Admission Fee: Adults for $12;  Children ages 3 – 15 are $6; Last admission sold at 5PM
  • Hours:  The park is open from April 17th to October 3rd, seven days a week from 9:30AM to 6PM.  Tulip Time hours are 9AM to 7PM with the last tickets sold at 6PM.
  • Amenities:  Free parking, Windmill tours, Amsterdam Street Organ, Welkom Movie and Virtual Windmill Tour, Visitor Services with restrooms, miniature village displays, gift shops and conservatory
  • Length of Visit:  2 to 3 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:   Check the venue’s website to prepare for your visit during the Tulip Time festivities as well as the Tulip Time website (www.tuliptime.com) in advance to plan their stay during the festival.  You will find that not all of the events take place on a daily basis, so checking out the itinerary may assist one with preparing a schedule ahead of time.  For example, if you arrive on Friday, there may not be a parade and if you happen to attend on the day of a parade, you can purchase grandstand tickets ahead of time.   The site also provides a detailed schedule of the events that take place as well as a great map to help you get around.  And if you stop by on a whim, you will find various information stands throughout the enchanting town of Holland that offer assistance as well.   Happy klomping!

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn Holland
12427 Felch Street
Holland, Michigan, 49424
Phone number:  855 605 0317

Hampton Inn is one of my favorite, low cost hotels and this was, by far, one of the best accommodations for this hotel chain.

Where to Eat:

Crust 54 – (two locations in Holland, Michigan)
*54 E. 8th Street, 616 394 3002

1145 S. Washington Avenue, 616 848 7787

*We stopped by Crust 54’s downtown location for Chicago style pizza!

Where to Drink: 

  • Bam! Brewing
  • Big Lake Brewing
  • Brewery 4TWO4
  • Coppercraft Distillery
  • Great Lakes Winery Brewery Distillery
  • Hopland Brewstillery
  • New Holland Brewing Company
  • Our Brewing Companies
  • Warner Vineyards

What to Read:

  • Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
  • Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
  • Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland: 

  • The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
  • DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
  • Sunset on Lake Michigan
  • Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
  • Dutch Dancers
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village:  landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
  • Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

 

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Lighting Up Michigan’s Shores!

7 May 201918 September 2024

Since Michigan has the most lighthouses than any other state in the US, it only made sense to check out a few while we were on vacation.  We couldn’t wait to explore The Holland Michigan Lighthouse, Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Old Mission Point Lighthouse.

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We made a stop in Holland, Michigan which was the perfect detour on our way to the vacation rental in Traverse City.  We strolled the beach and walked the pier while enjoying a cool breeze coming from the lake.  We felt renewed after having driven four hours from Ohio watching the sailboats navigate the channel while passing by the lighthouse.

The Holland Harbor Light is known as Big Red by the locals.  The lighthouse provides warning to ships and boats as they near the channel.  The placard nearby provides an interesting overview of how the Dutch persevered in completing the channel by digging the waterway themselves when government funds ran dry.  Access to the lighthouse is limited and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the middle of the morning to sunset.

DSC_0064aLater in the week, I chose to visit The Grand Traverse Lighthouse on Leelanau Peninsula.   It was a rainy day and the landscape was exceptionally green.  To reach the lighthouse, I had to first pay a fee to enter Leelanau State Park before continuing the coastal drive to the tip of the peninsula.

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The lighthouse that stands today was built in the late 1850s.  To enter, there is an additional fee in addition to the cost to access the state park. Visitors can reach the top of the lighthouse for spectacular views of Lake Michigan.

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Closest to where we were staying, Mission Point Lighthouse is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Traverse City.  As we entered Lighthouse Park, we found the parking lot and made our way toward the light with a quick stop at Hessler’s Log Cabin with plans to explore the house on our way back.

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What makes Mission Point Light so unique is that it is located along the 45th parallel which is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.   According to experts, because of its location, this part of the state is optimal for growing grapes which is why Michigan also produces wine.   The placard listed a few other locations along the 45th parallel to include Bordeaux which is famous for its wine production in France.

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Built in the late 1850s, the Hessler Log Cabin was once the home of Joseph and Mary Hessler.    In the 1950s and 60s, it later became housing for local cherry pickers.  The cabin was moved here so that visitors to the lighthouse could learn more about the lives of the first settlers on this peninsula.

Taking the scenic route of M-37, we looked forward to the beautiful drive back to Traverse City.  We passed vineyards and cherry orchards before browsing the Old Mission General Store.   We had such a great time visiting the Mission Point Lighthouse, but everyone was ready for a stop in Traverse City to order more of their amazing Grand Traverse Pie.

Are there certain attractions that interest you when you vacation?  Are you a fan of lighthouses?  I would love to hear about additional places to visit, so kindly leave a message in the comments section below!!  Many thanks for reading about my trip to the lighthouses near Grand Traverse, Michigan!  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Holland Lighthouse (Big Red Lighthouse)
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI  49423
Telephone: 800 506 1299

Grand Traverse Lighthouse
15500 Lighthouse Point Road
Northpoint, MI  49670
Telephone: 231 386 7195

Old Mission Point Lighthouse
20500 Center Road
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 223 7324

Restaurant Recommendation:

Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 West Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone: 231 922 7437

The perfect stop for soup, sandwiches, salads and of course pie!

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The Fog Signal Building, Grand Traverse Lighthouse,1899

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Beautiful view of Lake Michigan from the grounds of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse
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Another view of the Old Mission Lighthouse, Michigan

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Looking out from the Old Mission Lighthouse, Michigan

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Inside the Hessler Cabin, Michigan

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Holland, Michigan: True to its Dutch Heritage

30 April 201615 September 2024

As my family continues to grow, our vacations are typically based on two factors:  driving distance to our destination and space for all of the kiddos.   If we can find a beach (lake or ocean) and a list of fun attractions, that is also a plus.  After coming up with several ideas and narrowing our search, we all agreed to spend our summer vacation near Traverse City, Michigan with an overnight stop in Holland.

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I had recently visited Holland during a visit to the city’s annual Tulip Time Festival and recommended it as the overnight stop for our trip.  I was impressed with the local attractions, restaurants and shopping opportunities as well as its absolute charm.

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Our first stop in Holland was the city’s state park.  After strolling the beautiful coastline and watching the locals fish from the pier, we headed downtown for an early dinner.  We could not have asked for better weather with sunny skies and a cool breeze.

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The fish were biting and we saw a young boy taking his catch to the end of the dock to drop it into a bucket. Lake Michigan is full of fish including bass, trout, catfish, perch, walleye, bass as well as salmon.

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On the way back from the pier, we took a closer look at the beautiful red lighthouse on the opposite side of the channel.  We learned that the locals call it “Big Red” , but its official name is the Holland Harbor Light.  It plays an important role for guiding the boats through the channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.

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Strolling along the beach, we worked up an appetite and decided it was time to find a restaurant that could accommodate all of us.  The trip into Holland did not take but a few minutes and we were able to find parking on 8th street, the main shopping and restaurant district of town.

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We decided on Crust 54 where we ordered pizza and pasta.  The place was packed, but we were able to find seating for our group of six.   We stepped up to the counter to order and they brought our food to us when it was ready.  The Chicago Special pizza with Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and onions was abundantly cheesy and delicious.

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The sun was beginning to set and we had a little time to shop before reaching the hotel.  Holland is typical small town America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   It has won several awards and was ranked by the well-being index as the second healthiest/happiest town in the United States.  CNN ranked it as one of the top five places to retire in 2006.

Have you vacationed in Holland or live here? I would love to hear your suggestions for where to eat and shop if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation stay in Holland!  Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Holland State Park
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI 49424
Telephone:  616 399 9390

Holland Harbor Light
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI  49424
Telephone:  616 399 9390

Where to Stay: 

Baert Baron Mansion
120 S. Church Street
Zeeland, MI 49464
Telephone: 616 748 1953

Where to Eat: 

Crust 54 – Downtown Holland
54 E. 8th Street
Holland, MI  49423
Telephone:  616 394 3002

Where to Drink: 

  • Bam! Brewing
  • Big Lake Brewing
  • Brewery 4TWO4
  • Coppercraft Distillery
  • Great Lakes Winery Brewery Distillery
  • Hopland Brewstillery
  • New Holland Brewing Company
  • Our Brewing Companies
  • Warner Vineyards

What to Read:

  • Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
  • Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
  • Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland: 

  • The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
  • DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
  • Sunset on Lake Michigan
  • Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
  • Dutch Dancers
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village:  landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
  • Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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A Young Boy and his Fish

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It’s Tulip Time in Holland!

23 April 201615 September 2024

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When I think of springtime, I imagine the first blooms of delicate tulips and daffodils that burst into color against a gloomy grey sky.  Hibernating through the cold of winter, these beautiful flowers signal a resounding rebirth of life that can only mean that spring is around the corner.

Since 1959, the town of Holland, Michigan has been known for its production of tulips.  Growing a variety of species in a multitude of colors, Holland pays tribute to its Dutch heritage with their annual Tulip Time festivities.

Displaying over 200,000 tulips throughout the city, Holland hosts their annual Tulip Time celebration in May.  Visitors come from all over the world to experience “old Netherlands customs and traditions.”  The theme of the 2015 festival was “Join the Dance.” The city of Holland would attempt to  break the world record for klomping, exceeding the number of people “simultaneously dancing in wooden shoes”.

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Preparing for my visit, I began my research online by checking out the festival’s website. With a wealth of information, it was easy to plan my visit based on the site’s schedule of events, maps and detailed instructions for getting around town.  From windmill tours to trolley rides, I was starting to wonder if I was going to have enough time exploring the charming little town of Holland.

The list of festivities went on to include Dutch dancing, parades, educational talks and tours.  Most of the events were within walking distance but if I needed an extra lift to reach one of the venues, I could always rely on the hop on trolley.

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One of the highlights of my visit was watching the local high school students performing the traditional Dutch Dancing.  Training to become a “klomper” begins at a young age and the Dutch costumes are designed in accordance to the clothing of the Dutch Provinces.

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I attended a few of the festival events and leisurely strolled the “Great American Main Street” of East 8th Street.  While there were several eateries and concession stands, I was most interested in sampling some of the locally prepared dishes at the Dutch Marktplaats.   Authentic entrees ranged from Mettwurst to Maatjesharing (Dutch new herring).

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After a short pause for lunch, I was looking forward to riding the hop on, hop off trolley tour of the city.  With a Dutch-costumed guide, I learned more about the settlement of Holland with its historic district, downtown and city parks.  My $30 ticket also included discounts to some of the local attractions including Windmill Island Gardens, the Holland Museum and Cappon House.  While the trolley admission was valid for the day of purchase, I could use the discount tickets throughout the week.+DSC_0159

There were so many venues and events to explore during the Tulip Time celebration but I had only planned one day for a visit.  I could have easily spent a couple of days to enjoy the festival with more time to explore the town of Holland and had even suggested it as a stay for our family vacation in the summer.  I was excited that our family agreed that this would be a fun place to explore and I looked forward to an upcoming return.

Have you attended a cultural event that was so fabulous you wanted to experience it again?  I would love to hear about your recommendation if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about my visit to Holland, Michigan during the Tulip Time festival and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:  

Tulip Time
Holland, Michigan
Telephone: 800 822 2770

  • Tips for Your Visit:   I would encourage visitors to check out the Tulip Time website (www.tuliptime.com) in advance to plan their stay during the festival.  You will find that not all of the events take place on a daily basis, so checking out the itinerary may assist one with preparing a schedule ahead of time.  For example, if you arrive on Friday, there may not be a parade and if you happen to attend on the day of a parade, you can purchase grandstand tickets ahead of time.   The site also provides a detailed schedule of the events that take place as well as a great map to help you get around.  And if you stop by on a whim, you will find various information stands throughout the enchanting town of Holland that offer assistance as well.   Happy klomping!

Where to Stay:

Hampton Inn Holland
12427 Felch Street
Holland, Michigan, 49424
Phone number:  855 605 0317

Hampton Inn is one of my favorite, low cost hotels and this was, by far, one of the best accommodations for this hotel chain.

Where to Eat:

Crust 54 – (two locations in Holland, Michigan)
*54 E. 8th Street, 616 394 3002

1145 S. Washington Avenue, 616 848 7787

*We stopped by Crust 54’s downtown location because it was convenient and kid-friendly.  We loved the Chicago style pizza and highly recommend this as a place to dine.

Where to Drink: 

  • Bam! Brewing
  • Big Lake Brewing
  • Brewery 4TWO4
  • Coppercraft Distillery
  • Hopland Brewstillery
  • New Holland Brewing Company
  • Our Brewing Companies
  • Warner Vineyards

What to Read:

  • Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
  • Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
  • Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland: 

  • The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
  • DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
  • Sunset on Lake Michigan
  • Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
  • Dutch Dancers
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village:  landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
  • Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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