Holland, MI, United States

Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (also known locally as the Black River).

The city extends over the Ottawa/Allegan county line, with 9.08 square miles (23.52 km) in Ottawa and the remaining 8.13 square miles (21.06 km) in Allegan.  As of the 2000 census, the population was 35,048, with the 2008 census estimate placing the population at 34,076 with an Urbanized Area population of 95,394.

The city is the seventh largest metro area in the state of Michigan, with a population of 263,801 as of the 2010 census.  Holland was founded by Dutch Americans, and is in an area that has a large percentage of citizens of Dutch American heritage.

The city is best known for its Dutch heritage, which serves not only as a part of the city's cultural identity, but the local economy as well: the Tulip Time Festival in May and various Dutch-themed attractions augment the nearby Lake Michigan shoreline in attracting thousands of tourists annually.

Holland's downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The "Snowmelt Project" established pipes transporting warm water from the nearby power plant to travel underneath downtown with the purpose of clearing the streets and sidewalks in the downtown area of any snow.

In the last decade, Holland has received many awards, including one of the country’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” and a “Great American Mainstreet” from the National Trust for Historic Preservation; “All America City” from the National Civic League; “One of the Top Five Places to Retire” from Money Magazine in 2006; and “One of the Top Ten” in A.G. Edwards’ Nest Egg Index.  In 2010, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index names Holland, Michigan the #2 happiest place to live in America.

Holland consists of six neighborhoods--Downtown, Midtown (immediately south of downtown), Westside, Holland Heights (the northeast end of town), Maplewood (south of Midtown), and South End.

Healthcare

Part of one of the nation’s strongest healthcare regions, Holland Hospital (a Thomson Reuters Top 100 hospital) provides experienced specialists, leading-edge technology and patient care.

Education

Public schools

Holland Public Schools

• West Ottawa Public Schools, which serve the townships that make up Holland's suburban and rural "north side".
• Black River Public School, a charter school with kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and high school students.
• Vanderbilt Charter Academy (K-8).
• Thompson M-TEC (Adult Training) - a partnership between the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and Grand Rapids Community College.

Private schools

Holland Christian Schools

• Corpus Christi Catholic School
• Calvary Schools of Holland
• Holland Seventh-day Adventist School

Higher-level academic institutions

• Hope College--Hope College is a private four-year liberal arts undergraduate college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America.  Although officially chartered in 1866, Hope College generally traces its history to the October 1851, creation of the Holland colony's "Pioneer School."
• Western Theological Seminary - 101 East 13th Street, Holland -- is a mid-sized seminary affiliated with the Reformed Church in America; fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
• Grand Valley State University - 515 South Waverly Road, Holland -- Grand Valley offers more than 200 areas of study, including 77 undergraduate majors and 28 graduate programs. The land was donated to the GVSU by the Meijer family.
• Davenport University - 643 South Waverly Road, Holland -- Davenport University, an independent, nonprofit institution, chartered by the State of Michigan and empowered to grant degrees; it’s also certified and accredited in numerous areas of study.
• Western Michigan University, main campus in nearby Kalamazoo, has a branch campus in Holland.

Transportation

With Amtrak connecting to Chicago, their own small-jet airport, and Ford International Airport nearby Holland is well connected. Locally, a public bus system provides mass transit options.

Holland Amtrak station is called the "Louis & Helen Padnos Transportation Center" and serves as both an Amtrak station and a central hub for the Macatawa Area Express (MAX), a bus system that serves Holland and the nearby town of Zeeland.  The facility includes a ticket office and a waiting room, and the depot building is a renovated 1926 structure, built by the Pere Marquette Railroad.  Riders can transfer between Amtrak trains and all of the MAX system routes.

The city is serviced by two public airports, the recreational Park Township Airport (IATA: HLM, ICAO: KHLM), and the larger, corporate and charter jet Tulip City Airport (IATA: BIV, ICAO: KBIV). Neither facility is served by regularly scheduled commercial carriers. The city also is served by regularly scheduled Amtrak service (the Pere Marquette) east to Grand Rapids and west to Chicago with connections to all points east and west.

The city and surrounding area is served by the Macatawa Area Express (MAX) transportation system, which offers both on-demand and fixed-route bus service, linking different parts of the city as well as commercial, medical and government locations outside the city. This service evolved from the former "Dial-A-Ride Transportation" (DART) system.

The city is served by the following highways:

• Interstate 196 (Gerald R. Ford Freeway)
• Business Loop I-196
• U.S. Highway 31
• M-40
• Michigan A-2 Allegan County

The channel between Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan allows pleasure craft and commercial boats, even bulk freighters, to access Holland's docks to unload coal, salt and iron scrap.

Points of Interest

Tulip Time Festival

Each May Holland hosts an annual festival. Tulip planting and the festival began in 1930 when 250,000 tulips were planted for the event. Currently six million tulips are used throughout the city. Tulips are planted along many city streets, in city parks and outside municipal buildings as well as at tourist attractions like Dutch Village, the city-owned Windmill Island Gardens, and at a large tulip farm named Veldheer Tulip Gardens.  It has been ranked as America's third largest town festival and was named Reader's Digest's best small town festival.

Veldheer Tulip Gardens

The Veldheer Tulip Gardens hosts the Queen of the Tulip Time Festival itself: the Tulip.

DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory

Visitors can see Delftware Pottery being handcrafted.

Holland Museum

Get acquainted with Holland's history. Here you'll experience the arrival of the Dutch in 1847, their struggle for access to Lake Michigan.

Nelis' Dutch Village

Experience the Netherlands of the 1800's in 10 acres of authentic Dutch architecture, canals, and spectacular gardens.  Enjoy the Klompen dancers and music from the Amsterdam Street Organ, and peruse the Dutch crafts and artwork.

De Zwaan

An original 250-year-old Dutch windmill, situated on Windmill Island, a municipal park. Its height is 125 feet with 40-foot sails.

Cappon House and Settlers House Museums

Enter the Cappon House, the 19th century world of a Dutch immigrant who became a wealthy, influential, community leader and father of 16 children. It's all still here: the furnishings, personal belongings, and echoes of the daily life of the Isaac Cappon family.

The Settlers House museum is an 1867 example of Holland's early working class housing and a thought-provoking contrast to the Cappon House.

DePree Art Center and Gallery

The DePree houses the Hope College Arts Department including classrooms, studio space and a gallery hosting special exhibits throughout the year. Entrance to the Gallery is free.

Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa

Holland is on the shores of both, and scattered along the shorelines are many public beach accesses.  The best known are Holland State Park and Tunnel Park.  Smaller beaches along Lake Michigan are present but not well marked.  Public accesses are frequent along dead-end streets bordering the shoreline.

Holland Harbor Light

Known as "Big Red" Lighthouse -- Enjoy the best view of Michigan's most photographed lighthouse from Holland State Park.

Riley Trails

Riley Trails consists of approximately 10 acres of public land about three country blocks west of the Riley St. and Butternut Dr. intersection.  The park also features a large pond.

Annual Tulipanes Latino Art & Film Festival

This film festival is held to celebrate the Latino contribution to Holland’s culture.

The H.J. Heinz Company

Holland is home to the world's largest pickle factory. The H.J. Heinz Company has operated the factory at the same location since 1897 and currently processes over 1 million pounds of pickles per day during the green season.

Holland was the birthplace of Slashdot, an influential early Internet weblog created by Hope College student Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda.

Holland Area Arts Council

An arts center located in the heart of downtown Holland, the Holland Area Arts Council plays a leadership role in enriching the cultural life of the lakeshore area. Exhibition space in three galleries provides the opportunity to showcase the local artistry.

Knickerbocker Theatre

Built in 1911, it is located on Eighth Street in Downtown Holland.  Acquired by Hope College in 1988 this historic theatre is open to the public and presents a variety of films and plays host to numerous cultural events.

Holland Aquatic Center

Rated the best indoor public/non-profit facility in the country by Aquatics International Magazine and the host of NCAA Division III Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships in 2006, the center offers a diving pool, fitness room, and more.

Laketown Beach

The lengthy stairway at this lakeside location provides incredible vistas and access to Lake Michigan.  It also helps protect the fragile dune environment. 142nd Ave., west off 64th St.

Mt. Pisgah Dune Boardwalk

The towering dune east of the Holland State Park is newly accessible thanks to a new boardwalk and stair system completed in the summer of 2008. With its apex 157 feet above Lake Michigan, the boardwalk culminates with breathtaking views of Lake Macatawa.

Saugatuck Dunes State Park

No trip to Western Michigan is complete without a visit to the famous Dune of Saugatuck, located just 15 minutes from Holland. Discover the slopes and valleys of the incredible Michigan dunes and the surrounding woodlands.

Tunnel Park

This park has an extensive beach plus picnic areas, two picnic shelters, four sand volleyball courts, a children's playground complete with a dune climb, and a dune stairway with spectacular views of Lake Michigan.

Winding Creek Golf Club

Located at 4514 Ottogan St, Holland, the golf course has been voted #1 at least eight of the last ten years in the 'Best of West Michigan' poll in the Holland Sentinel's Reader Poll.

Fenn Valley Vineyards & Wine Cellar

Fenn Valley is a small family owned vineyard and winery that was born with the art of growing premium wine grapes and making fine wines. The vineyard site is located along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Pillar Church

Dedicated in 1856, this Greek Revival building is listed on the National Historic Register and is one of the few buildings to have survived the devastating fire of 1871 in Holland.

Dining and Food

Some local restaurants include:

• New Holland Brewing (American-New, Microbrewery) - 66 East 8th Street, Holland
• Pereddies (Italian) - 477 Washington St., Holland
• Deboer Bakkerij & Dutch Brothers Restaurant (Bakery, European and American) - 360 Douglas Ave, Holland
• Blue House Bistro (Cajun/Creole, American) - 220 West 8th Street, Holland
• Crazy Horse Steak House Saloon - 2027 N Park Dr, Holland
• Wild Chef Japanese Steak House - 2863 W Shore Dr, Holland
• Butch's (American-New) - 44 East 8th St # 100, Holland
• Gringo's Grill (Mexican, Latin) - 2863 West Shore Dr, Holland
• Curragh Irish Pub (Pub, American) - 73 East 8th Street, Holland
• Fricano's Too (Italian) - 174 S River Ave, Holland
• 84 East (Italian) - 84 East 8th Street, Holland
• Alpenrose Restaurant & Cafe (Bakery, European and American) - 4 East 8th Street, Holland
• The 8th Street Grille (American) - 20 West 8th Street, Holland
• Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant (American, Breakfast/Brunch and Seafood) - 216 Van Raalte Avenue, Holland
• CityVu Bistro (American-New, Sushi) - 61 East 7th Street, Holland
• Johnny Carino's Italian Kitchen (Italian) - 3015 W Shore Dr, Holland
• Ottawa Beach Inn (American, Seafood) - 2155 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland
• Mario's Pizzeria & Spaghetti (Pizza, Italian) - 850 Butternut Dr, Holland

Some area farmers’ markets include:

• Holland Farmers' Market, 150 West 8th Street, Holland, MI -- The Market will be open every Wednesday and Saturday.  Hours are 8am-4pm.
• Grand Valley State University Farmers' Market, Allendale, MI
• Coopersville Friday Farmers' Market, Coopersville, MI
• Grand Haven Farmers' Market, Grand Haven, MI
• Hudsonville Farmers' Market and Crafts, Hudsonville, MI
• Zeeland's Main Place Farmers' Market, Zeeland, MI

History

Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr. Albertus van Raalte, who were escaping from persecution in the Netherlands.  Van Raalte took the land due to its proximity to the Black River where it streamed to Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) which, in turn, led to Lake Michigan.  At the time, the land was inhabited by the Ottawa people who had been on the lake for hundreds of years.

In 1847, Van Raalte established a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, which would later be called the First Reformed Church of Holland. On March 25, 1867, Holland was incorporated as a city with Isaac Cappon being the city's first mayor.

The city suffered a major fire on October 8–9, 1871, the same time as the Great Chicago Fire in Illinois and the very deadly Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. Manistee and Port Huron, Michigan also burned.

Holland was known as the "City of Churches."  There are 170 churches in Holland, many of which are with the Reformed Church in America and Christian Reformed Church in North America denominations. 

Following World War II, Michigan lost its distinction as the center of Dutch immigration to the United States.  Holland’s ethnic Dutch community began to decline in proportion to the area’s overall population.  New manufacturing companies with diverse work forces moved to Holland and spearheaded the birth of productive manufacturing.

Holland’s population grew from 3,000 inhabitants at its Semi-Centennial 1897 to 15,000 at its Centennial in 1947 and surpassed 30,000 in 1997, its Sesquicentennial year.