Downtown Holland is both historic and progressive. With diverse shopping and dining, creative arts venues, and festive happenings all year round, Downtown Holland is the place to be!

Named one of “America’s Prettiest Towns” by Forbes Magazine, and an “All-American City” by the National Civic League, downtown Holland’s cobblestone sidewalks line the streets with over 100 unique and locally owned shops, galleries, eateries, and brew pubs.

No matter what you’re in the mood for, downtown dining in Holland, Michigan will serve up the perfect meal. We have a tempting array of restaurants, from fine dining to casual options in an Irish pub. Enjoy your meal on an outdoor patio with great views of the city, or in a booth at a classic American diner. Kick back on a huge deck along Lake Macatawa, or cozy up to the bar in a microbrewery.

Besides the bistros, pubs, grills, and restaurants, downtown Holland features cafés and shops that cater to smaller and sweeter appetites as well. We have ice cream, fudge, and candy shops; coffee café’s and bagel bakeries; pizza joints and salad/sandwich shops. Grab a freshly ground burger and top it off with a hand-dipped ice cream bar. Complete your meal of spaghetti pie with a slice of rhubarb raspberry pie. Be good with a fresh veggie sandwich and then go nuts with a hot fudge cider doughnut sundae.

With all this food, you’ll need something to wash it down. Our restaurants feature full bars — one that serves spirits distilled in its own distillery — as well as excellent wine lists and beer selections. Downtown also features several microbreweries and lounges. And you can enjoy such non-alcoholic delicacies as a Rock Shandy, Hot Caramel Apple cider, and a Milky Way Latte Smoothie.

So if you’re thinking of dining in Holland, Michigan, head downtown for a great meal, the perfect atmosphere, and the friendliest of service.

Holland State Park is one of Michigan's most visited state parks. Once you take a look at the beautiful beach or take in a sunset over Lake Michigan, you'll know why! The expansive beach is open to all who have purchased a day pass or a Recreation Passport. View Big Read Lighthouse directly across the channel to the south, or take a stroll north along the beachfront. Holland State Park offers fishing, a boat launch, a concession stand with modern restrooms and changing area, a small playground and camping. During peak hours (weekends, holidays), we recommend to arrive early.

Michigan residents: THERE IS NO DAY PASS. An Annual Passport is $17 at the Park.

Out of State Residents: Annual Pass $36 or Daily Admission $10

The best way to get acquainted with Holland is to take a crash course in its fascinating history-and there's no better place for this than the Holland Museum. Here you'll learn about the arrival of the Dutch in 1847, their struggle for access to Lake Michigan, the devastating fire of 1871, and the amazing story of Holland's rise from the ashes. Also featured are Holland's ties to the furniture industry, the birth of Tulip Time, the war years, and the burgeoning economic growth that continues today. For nearly three-quarters of a century, the Holland Museum has received impressive gifts of Dutch culture from donors here and around the world! With an extensive collection of Dutch fine and decorative arts, there are over 55 seventeenth to twentieth century Dutch paintings, and more than 170 cultural objects such as: Delftware, silver, Dutch costumes and fine furniture. These artifacts tell the story of over 400 years of Dutch History.

The main level hosts both the permanent exhibitions (Permanent Gallery/Holland History) and the temporary exhibitions ( Wichers Gallery and Focus Gallery), as well as the gift shop. The second floor contains only Dutch Galleries. Located on the lower level are the museum's collection of books, papers, and photographs in the Archives and Reserach Library.

No stop in Holland is complete without a visit to Windmill Island Gardens. Tour De Zwaan, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the United States – still turning and grinding wheat into flour! Other Dutch treasures include a street organ gifted by the City of Amsterdam and a hand-painted antique carousel. Other Dutch features include stately Friesian horses, a water exhibit and Little Netherlands – a maquette of Dutch life in the 1840s when Holland was settled. Many buildings are replicas of those found in the Netherlands including the ones housing a gift shop where you can pick up an authentic Dutch treat!

Of course, the Island wouldn’t be complete without featuring Dutch horticulture and floriculture. Known for a dazzling display of ~150,000 tulips in the spring, the gardens are replanted with annuals. Dozens of varieties planted in themed beds create a can’t miss display through summer and early fall.

A great group-friendly attraction, Windmill Island Gardens is open mid-April through early October each year. Year-round programs feature gardening, arts, and heritage events. The Island also makes a wonderful backdrop for wedding & corporate events.

A picturesque place to watch a sunset, Tunnel Park is named for the concrete tunnel that cuts through a sand dune and provides access to a sparkling Lake Michigan beach. This 22-acre park with its extensive Lake Michigan beachfront is a great place for swimming, sunbathing and picknicking. In addition to the unique tunnel through the dune, this park has a children's playground complete with a dune climb and a dune stairway with scenic views of Lake Michigan. Beach volleyball courts, picnic tables and grills, restrooms, and a great playground make this a very family-friendly beach.

Tunnel Park is part of the Ottawa County Park systems; there is a per-vehicle parking fee from April 1 to October 31.

High bluffs, wooded dunes, and more than 1/3-mile of sandy Lake Michigan beach define popular Kirk Park. You’ll find a swimming beach, hiking trails that include a handicap accessible loop, ungroomed cross-country ski trails in winter, modern restrooms (closed in winter), a horseshoe pit, kids’ play area, off-leash dog beach, Lake Michigan overlook deck, a couple of picnic shelters (which you can reserve), picnic tables, and grills.