Holland’s Good Times
Don’t let the tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes fool you. Holland, Michigan is an all-American city with a Dutch accent!
Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands in 1847, the area’s architecture and ambiance were patterned after its European namesake. Today, this vibrant city offers a diversity of cultures and experiences, blending old with new.
Introduction to Holland
Holland is perhaps best known for its picturesque tulip gardens, towering historic windmill, and annual salute to Dutch culture—Tulip Time. Every May, this community-wide, weeklong celebration of Dutch heritage is held amidst millions of kaleidoscopic-colored tulips. It features parades, Klompen dancers in hand-carved wooden shoes, street scrubbing, and nationally recognized entertainment.
The Holland area also offers a number of Dutch attractions, a year-round calendar of visual and performing arts, four seasons of outdoor recreation, white-sand beaches, and a snowmelt system that keeps downtown sidewalks and streets clear and dry when the snow flies.
Fishing in Holland
But Holland is more than tulips and wooden shoes. It’s also a great destination for anyone “ angling” for a good time. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing from your own boat, off a breakwall, or aboard a charter vessel—you’ll be fishing one of the finest freshwater fisheries in the country. A variety of experiences await you, including serene inland-lake fishing for bluegill, bass, perch, and walleye; fishing for trout, salmon, and perch from the breakwalls at Holland State Park; or wetting lines in the wide-open waters of Lake Michigan for Chinook salmon.
The Lake Michigan Port of Holland offers some fantastic fishing all season long. When spring commences, brown trout and Coho salmon move into shallow water, where the best lure presentations are shallow-diving crankbaits flat-lined out and put on inline boards.
As the water warms to around 50 degrees, king salmon bites also start to heat up. These fish are found in relatively shallow water around this time due to the gathering of spawning alewife. As May and early June approach, the kings start suspending over deeper water. They are caught on a number of presentations with crankbaits on leadcore line or drop weights. Mid-July into September, the fish suspend out over deep water. Mid-September through October, fish begin their migration toward the shallows and river mouths, and this time of year can be your best bet when the fish come in close. So come enjoy all that the Port of Holland has to offer, and be sure to follow the weekly fishing reports on
www.fishermansdigest.com.
Fun for Everyone
From wooden shoes to windmills, beaches to brew pubs, and festivals to fishing, Holland has a wide variety of activities and attractions for everyone. Historic downtown Holland is a delight in which to shop or dine. Stroll the brick sidewalks to trendy boutiques and sleek galleries housed in restored Victorian-era buildings, where you will find a dazzling array of jewelry, antiques, fine arts and crafts, designer and resort apparel, home décor, wine, and more.
To dock at one of Holland’s three transient marinas located on Lake Macatawa, you enter the Holland Harbor with the mighty “ Big Red” lighthouse as your guide. Eldean’s Shipyard Marina, (www.eldean.com), one of the oldest full-service marinas in the U.S., is located on the south shore of Lake Macatawa, while Anchorage Marina, (www.anchoragemarine.com), and Yacht Basin Marina (www.yachtbasinmarina.com) are on the north shore. All three marinas take reservations, have fuel docks, and are about six miles from downtown Holland.
For a quick pick-me-up or a night on the town, enjoy upscale restaurants, contemporary cafes, and popular craft brew pubs, many of which offer seasonal al fresco dining and live entertainment. Downtown also hosts a variety of activities, including a farmers market, street performers, a kid-approved Splash Pad, and more. If you’re shopping downtown or checking out the street performers, grab a quick bite at Froggy’s, serving the best hot dogs, burgers, and fries. Wind your way along the award-winning Heinz Waterfront Walkway, which starts at the Heinz pickle factory on 16th Street, just a short walk from the bustling shops and restaurants downtown. Hugging the southern shoreline of Lake Macatawa, the walkway offers scenic lake views, fishing decks, a boat launch ramp, and benches for resting and enjoying the sights.
Of course, Holland has those old-time favorites as well. There’s miniature golf, batting cages, go-karts, video games, bumper boats, and laser tag. Kids will also love a stop at Teusink’s Pony Farm, the Critter Barn, or one of the two outdoor skate parks in town. And no stop in Holland is complete without a visit to Captain Sundaes for one of their famous Tommy Turtle Sundaes.
Delve into Dutch culture at The Holland Museum, where a diverse collection of art and artifacts tell Holland’s history. On Windmill Island you can tour DeZwaan, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the United States; or treat your family to Neli’s Dutch Village theme park, which recreates Dutch village life from more than 100 years ago and features rides and activities for kids of all ages. A visit to DeKlomp Delft & Wooden Shoe Factory will delight young and old alike. Watch craftsmen carve wooden shoes and artists hand paint Delftware. And don’t forget your camera, because you will want to get a picture of one of Michigan’s most photographed lighthouses, Big Red, which stands majestically at the entrance to Holland Harbor.
And no vacation is complete without spending some time at the beach. Holland State Park offers two beaches for the price of one: enjoy the sun, sand, and surf on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. Swim, picnic, sunbathe, or take a walk on the pier. Don’t forget to head back for a stroll in the evening to see the spectacular sunset over Lake Michigan. You can also visit the Holland Aquatic Center, where there’s a 150-foot slide, splash zone, water cannons, and sometimes float-in movies.
Just up the road, Tunnel Park has an extensive beach, picnic areas, two picnic shelters, four sand volleyball courts, a playground complete with a dune climb, and a dune stairway with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. You might also try your hand at fishing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, or simply relaxing on a dinner cruise on Lake Macatawa.
If the kids need to run off some steam, Holland boasts more than 1,800 acres of parks and 120 miles of bike trails. There are also two nature centers to explore Mt. Pisgah, a 230-step stairway to a platform with towering views of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.
Take advantage of the season! No matter when you visit, something should be ripe for picking. Blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and apples are just a few.
For more ideas about things to do while in Holland, visit
www.holland.org or call the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-506-1299.
