Windmill island in Holland – This picturesque 36-acre heritage park (also known as little Netherlands) is located along the Macatawa River and the swamp leading into Lake Macatawa. The park is open daily from late April until early October. In early May, the park comes alive with tulips and later the gardens change to annual flowers.
Dutch windmill, DeZwaan – The park is also home to a 251-year old authentic Dutch windmill, DeZwaan (the Swan), dating to 1760’s and brought from Netherlands in 1964. Standing at 125 feet, the windmill is a symbol of the Dutch heritage of this area and is the only original Dutch windmill exported to America. It is still a working windmill producing stone ground flour for sale. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the windmill with docents available for questions. You can climb the stairs to a first floor from where you get an excellent view of the park.
Little Netherland – In addition to the windmill, the park has buildings that are replicas of those found in the Netherlands including the one housing a gift shop where you can pick up an authentic Dutch treat!
After Tulip Time season, tourists continue to enjoy the Island’s attractions, and the park frequently hosts weddings and events. The Island’s celebration pavilion can seat up to 300 people. Wedding ceremonies are typically held outside the park or in the Island’s gardens, with receptions and banquets taking place in the pavilion.
Holland Harbor Lighthouse – This beloved lighthouse popularly known as “Big Red”, is located at the entrance of a channel connecting Lake Michigan with Lake Macatawa. It is a 15 min drive from Windmill Island. The Lighthouse has a long and rich history dating back to the first structure built on that site in 1870. The first lighthouse built at this location was a small, square wooden structure erected in 1872, after the U.S. Congress, appropriated $4,000 to the project. In 1880 the lighthouse service installed a new light atop a metal pole in a protective cage. At the turn of the century, a steel tower was built for the light and in 1907 the present structure was erected.
Currently the lighthouse is owned and maintained by a non-profit lighthouse commission and is Michigan’s most photographed lighthouse.
Grand Haven Lighthouses – Established in 1839, 2 lighthouses on the south pier, both painted red, are connected by a lighted catwalk that also connects them to the shore and the Grand Haven Boardwalk. This lighthouse is 27 miles north of the Big Red lighthouse.
