Located in Holland, Michigan, Windmill Island Gardens offers visitors a Dutch heritage experience unlike any other in the United States. This 36-acre site transports guests to the Netherlands through authentic architecture, traditional displays, and seasonal landscapes. As Michigan’s Dutch cultural destination, Windmill Island Gardens welcomes thousands of visitors annually who come to see the historic windmill, walk through garden displays featuring over 150,000 tulips in spring, and experience Dutch life in the American Midwest.
The main feature of Windmill Island Gardens Michigan is the “de Zwaan” windmill, standing over the landscape and serving as both a functional mill and cultural icon. This working windmill continues to grind grain into flour just as it did in the Netherlands, offering visitors a look into traditional Dutch craftsmanship. Beyond the windmill, the garden changes throughout the seasons, with the spring tulip display being the most notable event that draws flower enthusiasts from across the country to see rows of colorful tulips celebrating Holland’s Dutch roots and horticultural skills.
The history of ‘de Zwaan’ (meaning “The Swan”) shows Holland’s dedication to preserving its cultural heritage. As the last authentic working windmill permitted to leave the Netherlands in 1964, this historic structure represents a significant cultural exchange between the two nations. City leaders recognized the importance of maintaining Dutch traditions in the community and secured this 250-year-old windmill, carefully dismantling it in its homeland and reconstructing it piece by piece in Holland, Michigan. Today, Windmill Island Gardens Michigan continues to honor this legacy by maintaining the windmill in working condition, allowing visitors to see traditional grain milling techniques while learning about Dutch engineering.
Rising five stories above the garden landscape, ‘de Zwaan’ offers visitors who climb to its upper levels views of the surrounding tulip fields and landscaped grounds. The windmill serves as both a working mill and a living museum, with guides explaining the mechanics of traditional Dutch milling. The authenticity of this experience makes Windmill Island Gardens a destination for those interested in European heritage and early American immigrant history, creating a connection between Holland, Michigan and its namesake country across the Atlantic.
The 36-acre Windmill Island Gardens Michigan provides visitors with grounds to explore, featuring landscapes that change with each season. While the garden is most famous for its spring display of 150,000 tulips that transform the grounds, the horticultural team ensures year-round beauty with seasonal plantings. In 2024, visitors can enjoy a color spectrum theme throughout the gardens, showcasing the gardening staff’s skills. Beyond spring, summer and fall bring thousands of annuals and perennials that maintain the garden’s appeal, creating different experiences for repeat visitors to Holland Michigan’s distinctive attraction.
Walking through Windmill Island Gardens feels like entering a small Dutch village. Authentic touches include replica structures such as a wayside inn, fisherman’s houses, and a historical orphanage with a working Dutch mailbox. The Little Netherlands display offers a look into 1840s life in the Netherlands, coinciding with Holland, Michigan’s founding by Dutch settlers. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the “Tulip Grove” with old-growth oak trees, preserving these specimens while incorporating them into the garden’s design. The combination of horticultural skills and cultural authenticity makes this destination one of Michigan’s most unique attractions.
The cultural attractions at Windmill Island Gardens extend beyond the windmill and tulips. Visitors enjoy the sounds of a street organ from Amsterdam, a gift from the Dutch capital following World War II that continues to play traditional music. Children and adults like the antique carousel with hand-painted horses and other animals, a reminder of old-world craftsmanship. The “Welkom” movie presentation provides historical context, explaining Holland Michigan’s settlement history and the creation of Windmill Island Gardens as a cultural preservation project, enriching the visitor experience.
Throughout the grounds, exhibits offer insights into Dutch traditions, windmill mechanics, and horticultural practices. These displays help visitors understand the significance of each element within the gardens, creating connections between past and present. Enjoying a guided tour or exploring independently, guests leave with an appreciation for Dutch culture and its influence on this part of Michigan. The authentic experience is enhanced by staff members who share interesting facts and stories, making Windmill Island Gardens a cultural destination in Holland Michigan.
No visit to Windmill Island Gardens Michigan would be complete without stopping by the gift shop, where visitors can purchase Dutch treats and souvenirs. The shop offers traditional goods, including Dutch cheeses and imported delicacies. From Delft blue pottery to wooden shoes, visitors find mementos to remember their experience. After exploring the gardens and exhibits, guests can walk trails that showcase the natural areas around the attraction. These paths wind along the Macatawa River delta, where bird species and wildlife create additional points of interest for nature enthusiasts visiting Holland Michigan.
Beyond daily visits, Windmill Island Gardens has become a venue for special events throughout the year. The setting makes it popular for weddings, with couples exchanging vows amid the tulips or with the windmill as a backdrop. Corporate events benefit from the unique atmosphere and surroundings, offering memorable experiences for team gatherings and client events. The gardens host seasonal celebrations connecting with visitors through interests including history, horticulture, engineering, music, science, and agriculture—all united under Dutch heritage celebration. This ensures that Windmill Island Gardens remains a destination in Holland Michigan for first-time visitors and returning guests who discover something new with each visit.
