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”.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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
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