Holland, Michigan: where Dutch tradition meets Great Lakes beach culture

De Zwaan Still Grinds Flour Today

Holland, Michigan, feels more like the Netherlands than almost anywhere else in the United States.

The city’s centerpiece is a historic windmill—originally built in 1761 in Krommenie, Netherlands—that still turns and grinds wheat into flour, surrounded by 36 acres of tulip gardens, canals, and Dutch architecture.

Beyond the windmill, you’ll find heated sidewalks that melt snow on contact, a downtown packed with Dutch cheese shops, and Lake Michigan beaches with views of a bright red lighthouse.

It’s one of the Midwest’s most charming getaways, and the reason it exists starts with a mill that crossed an ocean.

A Mill With a Complex History, Shipped in 1964

De Zwaan was originally built in 1761 in Krommenie, Netherlands, as a grain mill set on a raised base to enhance wind capture.

In 1884, after the original site converted to steam power, the windmill was relocated and reconstructed in Vinkel, a small town in the Noord-Brabant province.

It ground grain for local farmers until World War II damage forced it out of service.

By the 1960s, Holland, Michigan, civic leaders—including Castle Park resort owner Carter Brown and Netherlands Information Service director Willard Wichers—wanted to honor their city’s Dutch heritage with an authentic working mill.

They negotiated with the Dutch government to purchase De Zwaan, which was disassembled, shipped across the Atlantic, and reassembled on a 36-acre island.

It was the last windmill the Netherlands ever allowed to leave the country.

De Zwaan formally opened to the public on April 10, 1965.

Climb Five Stories Inside

Visitors can take self-guided tours through all five floors of the 125-foot-tall windmill.

On the ground level, thick brick walls slope downward in the traditional Dutch style to drain water.

Higher up, you’ll see the massive wooden gears that turn almost silently because they’re lubricated with beeswax.

At the top, two sets of grindstones process soft white winter wheat grown by West Michigan farmers.

The flour is sold in the gift shop when available.

Canals and Carousels Surround It

Windmill Island Gardens wraps around De Zwaan with 36 acres of Dutch-themed attractions.

A drawbridge crosses a canal toward the windmill, creating one of the most photographed spots in Michigan.

The ‘Four Columns’ Street organ, a gift from the City of Amsterdam to the City of Holland

Kids can ride a hand-painted Dutch carousel, and the Little Netherlands exhibit shows a miniature version of Dutch life in the 1840s when Holland was first settled.

150,000 Tulips Bloom in Spring

Every spring, over 150,000 tulips explode across Windmill Island Gardens in dozens of varieties.

The fields of color surrounding the towering windmill create some of the most stunning photos in the Midwest.

After the tulips fade, the gardens are replanted with over 5,000 annuals in 80 varieties that bloom through early fall.

Tulip Time Draws Record Crowds

The Tulip Time festival runs May 1 through 10, 2026, and typically draws 500,000-600,000 visitors—though 2025 set a record with nearly one million attendees.

It started in 1929 when the city planted its first 100,000 tulips, and now over six million bloom throughout town during the 10-day celebration.

Dutch dancers in wooden shoes perform traditional folk dances downtown, massive parades fill the streets, and the Tulip Immersion Garden, designed by Dutch horticulturist Ibo Gülsen, showcases thousands of tulips in raised arrangements designed for stunning photos.

Downtown Sidewalks Never Get Snow

Since 1988, over 10.5 acres of downtown Holland’s streets and sidewalks stay completely snow-free all winter.

Hot water from the local power plant pumps through miles of tubing laid beneath the pavement, melting about an inch of snow per hour even at 20 degrees with 10 mph winds.

It’s the largest municipally owned snowmelt system in North America.

Local industrialist Edgar Prince saw similar systems in Europe and put up the first $250,000 of his own money to make it happen.

Over 100 Shops Line 8th Street

Downtown Holland’s brick-paved 8th Street has over 100 locally owned boutiques, galleries, cafes, and restaurants.

Victorian-era architecture lines the street, and outdoor sculptures dot the sidewalks.

Parking is free throughout downtown.

In winter, steam rises from the heated sidewalks while snow falls around you, creating a scene that locals say looks straight out of a Hallmark movie.

Sample 20 Dutch Cheeses Downtown

Dutch Village Downtown on 8th Street offers tastings of over 20 varieties of Dutch cheese, including aged Gouda, Leiden, Edam, and flavored options like basil garlic.

You can also buy handcrafted wooden shoes, hand-painted Delftware ceramics, stroopwafels, and other imported Dutch treats.

The shop opened in November 2021 and brings the full Dutch Village experience to downtown.

Big Red Guards the Harbor

Michigan’s most photographed lighthouse stands at the entrance to Holland Harbor, where Lake Macatawa meets Lake Michigan.

The fog signal building was constructed in 1907, with the light tower added in 1936.

It got its famous red paint job in 1956 when the Coast Guard required all lights on the right side of harbor entrances to be red.

You can view Big Red from Holland State Park across the channel or climb the 239 steps to the Mount Pisgah overlook, which rises 157 feet above the lake and offers panoramic views of both lakes and the lighthouse.

Sugar Sand Beaches Nearby

Holland State Park offers a beach on Lake Michigan with views of Big Red lighthouse.

A separate beach on calmer Lake Macatawa has a dog-friendly section and kayak rentals at the Macatawa Boat House.

The park draws between 1.5 and 2 million visitors annually and has two large campgrounds.

A 20-mile paved bike trail connects the park to Grand Haven State Park along the lakeshore.

December Brings Magic at the Mill

During select Friday and Saturday nights in December, De Zwaan transforms into a holiday spectacle.

Thousands of lights cover the centuries-old windmill while 1,000 LED tulip blossoms on the ground dance to synchronized music.

Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus, greets children inside the park.

The gift shops stay open, hot beverages are available for purchase, and the whole scene glows against the winter sky.

Tickets must be purchased in advance online.

Visit Windmill Island in Holland, Michigan

Windmill Island Gardens is located at 1 Lincoln Avenue, just over a mile north of downtown Holland.

The park opens mid-April through early October, with hours from 9:30 AM to 5 PM daily (extended hours during Tulip Time).

Admission is $13 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 to 15, with higher prices during Tulip Time.

Holland residents get in free with a valid Michigan driver’s license showing a Holland address (except during Tulip Time).

Allow at least two hours to explore the windmill, gardens, and attractions.

The park accepts memberships that also grant free or reduced admission to dozens of other gardens across North America through the American Horticultural Society reciprocal program.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Lake Muskegon Drops Off EPA Toxic List After 40 Years and $84 Million
• This Wisconsin Peninsula Has 300 Miles of Coastline and Most Americans Have Never Heard of It
• 14 Brutal Reasons Why People Are Fleeing Illinois in 2026