Seniors Enjoy Holland

Holland is a coastal city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the state of Michigan with a population of 34,481. Senior travelers find it situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa.

The city is perhaps 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. Holland is loaded with past history, including where the name Holland comes from.

The locals call the city ‘Holland’s Pure Michigan’. The traditional Klompen (wooden shoe) can be found everywhere. If possible, plan your visit around Tulip Time.

 Seniors Catch The Tulip Festival

The renown Tulip Festival that takes place the first Saturday in May. Named the “Best Small Town Festival” by Readers Digest, the Festival celebrates Holland’s Dutch heritage with a week of events and special attractions.

If you love a parade, Tulip Time has three – the Volksparade, Kinderparade, and Muziekparade. The Dutch Marktplaats serves up plenty of Dutch food, merchandise, and demonstrations, while the festive Kinderplaats provides kids with a park that is full of activities.

The number one attraction is the tulip itself — and there are literally millions to see, in city parks, Downtown planters, Tulip Lanes, Windmill Island Gardens, Nelis’ Dutch Village, and the biggy, Veldheer’s Tulip Farm.

Plan a visit to Hope College, a distinguished four-year liberal arts college with 3,388 students. Downtown Holland is loaded with arts and culture that includes an Armory, Civic Theatre, Holland Museum and Centennial Park.

Seniors Stroll Through Award Winning Downtown

From the award-winning ‘Downtown’ to white, sandy beaches, senior visitors will soon fall in love with Holland’s small town charm. Dine along the waterfront or at a cozy Dutch cafe. Climb to the top of a sand dune or the top of a local Dutch windmill.  Shop for a pair of Klompen that you will wear with a pair of heavy socks.

No matter what your interests are, senior visitors will find Dutch heritage everywhere. Dutch Dancing is big and the entire city turns out for the festive occasion.  I learned that nearly 1,000 costumed locals perform traditional Dutch dances every day throughout the City of Holland at Tulip Time.

The history of Dutch Dance began in 1935 with local high school girls performing at the Tulip Time Festival. They were dressed in costumes and were called “Klompen Dancers.” Originally the dancers’ costumes were delft blue with white organdy caps and aprons.

The Nelis’ Dutch Village is where you can take a step back into the Netherlands of over 100 years ago on a day when the carnival came to town, complete with authentic Dutch architecture, flowering gardens, canals and windmills.

A must stop for gourmet senior visitors is the Deboer Bakkerij and Dutch Brothers Restaurant for some great local cuisine.  -jeb