Midwesterners: I have good news for you. You don’t need to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in order to experience the beauty of the Netherlands. You really don’t! All you need to do is get in your car and drive up to Holland, Michigan (and more specifically– to Windmill Island Gardens)!
As you can see, Holland is located just a few miles inland from Lake Michigan, and it’s not too far from the larger city Grand Rapids. Holland is a fantastic town to stop through when visiting the Great Lake State.
I’ve already posted all about how you should spend 1 day in Holland Michigan, highlighting the top things worth your time. And Windmill Island Gardens is absolutely crucial to that itinerary!
Note: This article is not sponsored or affiliated, I’m just sharing our favorite family stops from our recent trip!
Why Visit Windmill Island Gardens?
Holland, Michigan is home to De Zwaan (The Swan), AKA the very last windmill to leave Dutch soil (ever!!) back in 1964 (source). It’s the oldest working authentic windmill in the U.S.A. I’m telling you, this is a visual landmark and a cultural centerpiece that stands proud. The massive windmill signals to all who come that this is a town with deep, Dutch roots.
If you want to learn more about the fascinating history of this famous windmill, Alisa Crawford (a Michigan-native historian) wrote a book I’m interested in reading called De Zwaan!
When to Visit Windmill Island Gardens:
The Windmill Island Gardens is definitely a seasonal production. The Gardens are open from mid-April to early October (in 2023 it closed Oct. 15th). Plan accordingly! There are seasonal events held throughout the year, though. For example, Magic at the Mill will light up the winter sky in December (advance tickets required).
The famous Tulip Time Festival is held yearly and is very busy! It will be held May 4-12 in 2024.
Peak Bloom Week is also held at the end of July for annuals and perennial blooms! We went the week before this in 2023 and the flowers were lovely!
Learn more about how to plan your visit on their official website.
Start with De Zwaan
Obviously this windmill is the crowning jewel of this park, and where you should start your visit.
I was happy to learn that you can walk inside and go up the stairs! There are guides there to help you learn how a windmill actually functions.
This windmill happens to be a grain mill, capitalizing on the wind power to crush wheat into flour. Voila! My boys liked seeing how this all worked.
Views from Up High
Don’t forget to step outside once you reach the landing point! The views are lovely, and well worth the trek up.
Enjoy the Traditional Dutch Buildings
Listen to the Organ!
It really adds to the whole vibe and theme of the park. This organ is at least 80 years old and is authentically Dutch. My kids and I were much more captivated by this organ than I expected!
The Gardens
With everything there is to see and do at this park, it’s easy to become distracted. Don’t let that happen to you! The flowers and manicured grounds are breathtaking, so take some time to soak those in!
Tips for Visiting with Children:
We definitely brought down the average visitor’s age when we came with my 2, 5, and 7 year old. There were a few other families with young children, but also tons of retirees and senior citizens!
Don’t be discouraged from visiting with your kids, though. Even my extremely active and energetic kids really liked this visit. Here’s why:
The Carousel & Playground
Parents will be grateful for the small playground where kids can constructively get out their energy! It’s even themed, featuring yellow larger-than-life dutch shoes and a small cottage to play in.
Even better is the antique carousel with hand-painted scenes of Holland. (It ran on the half hour and the top of the hour during our July visit.)
The Shopping
I know you think I’m crazy because I suggested that kids may enjoy the shops at a windmill garden park. DON’T GO! Listen. The store full of Dutch goods had some really great kids’ souvenir options.
My son had recently turned 5 and chose to spend his birthday money on a wooden toy car and wooden toy airplane (one for him and one for his brother- so sweet). The shop workers engraved the wood for free!
The Snacks
Also, what kid human doesn’t like snacks?? Stop in the shop to buy and/or sample a huge selection of unique cheeses! The coconut gouda was really unique and memorable for me.
You can also purchase other packaged snacks such as crackers, or — my favorite– stroopwafels.
Model Windmills
My boys also really enjoyed the model displays of various windmills. I’m telling you, this place is full of nooks and crannies to investigate.
(You can see part of my son’s wooden car mentioned above in this picture!)
All that to say, there is a lot for kids to enjoy at the Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, MI!
That’s it for Windmill Island Gardens!
Cover photo by Aryan Ram on Unsplash
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