The Tulip City

Boating and more

Boaters looking for fuel, transient slips and other services can find several options at the west end of Lake Mac. Just inside the inlet and to the south, you’ll find Eldean Shipyard, which has been in business for more than 100 years and is one of the oldest active marinas in the United States.

A little farther east on the lake’s north side, Yacht Basin Marina and neighboring Anchorage Marina also provide fuel, pump-out services and slip space. All three marinas have repair services available and offer third-party pontoon boat, jet ski, kayak and paddleboard rentals. Holland has a rich boatbuilding history. It’s home to Tiara Yachts, which builds its boats in a state of the art plant on the south shore of Lake Macatawa. This is just one of the many boatbuilding companies that originated in Holland, including Grand Craft Boats, Jesiek Brothers (at the current-day Eldean Shipyard location) and Roamer Boat Company.

History, museums and attractions

The marinas are at the west end of the lake, while the town and most attractions are at the east end. If you travel with bikes on your vessel, you can make the trip into town without too much effort. However, without bikes, your best option is to call one of the local taxi services to get where you want to go.

Holland celebrates its Dutch heritage with a yearly cultural celebration known as Tulip Time. The early May event is timed to coincide with the bloom of more than 5 million colored tulips that blanket the local parks and line the city streets.

Although the pandemic put some restrictions in place for the current season, during normal conditions, the eruption of floral color is accompanied by a fair complete with rides, games and an overabundance of food from street vendors and food trucks. The cultural celebration also includes parades that feature Dutch dancers in old-world costumes performing traditional “klompen” dances in wooden shoes.

If you are looking to dig up a little history, the Cappon House and Settler’s House Museum near the center of town transports visitors back to Holland’s beginnings in the late 1800s. Visitors to the Windmill Island Gardens will discover beautiful walking paths through themed floral gardens and self-guided tours of a real, working Dutch windmill that still grinds flour for local use.

If you would like to let someone else do the driving for a change, hop on the Holland Princess — a 65- foot Victorian-style paddle wheeler. There are also a variety of fishing charters available in the Holland area for those looking to hook salmon, steelhead or perch. The beach at the Holland State Park is the best place to catch one of West Michigan’s spectacular sunsets. However, if you drive in, don’t expect to leave in a hurry — it’s also the spot where locals go to watch too.

For those seeking an impressive bird’s eye view of the area, embark on a hike up Mount Pisgah. The 157-foot climb is well worth it, as the peak offers breathtaking views of both lakes.

Dining

For a fun dining experience, boaters can pull up to the docks at Boatwerks on the east end of Lake Macatawa for outdoor and waterfront dining and see memorabilia from some of the area’s boating history displayed throughout.

If you are staying at Anchorage or Yacht Basin Marina, Lolo’s Bar and Grill behind the Yacht Basin offices offers casual drinks, dining and live music on the waterfront within walking distance of your slip.

In town, plenty of other dining opportunities exist with everything from pizzerias to fine dining available along 8th street, Holland’s main thoroughfare. Skiles Pizza offers pool and other bar games, while New Holland Brewery provides a variety of proprietary brews with names like Golden Sails, Coastal Dreams and Lightpoint to accompany the items on its extensive menu.

Big Lake Brewery has an eclectic beer list and bar bites. There are several eateries new to Holland, including Seventy-Six, featuring a high-end American menu; Poquito, offering Spanish and Latin fare; and Public, which serves “handcrafted comfort food.”

For something different, the Curragh features traditional Irish dishes like bangers and mash. Or, just a few doors away, Mizo Sushi serves a variety of sushi options along with traditional Japanese and Korean dishes.

For a true Dutch treat, deBoer’s Bakkerij serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at its two locations. The treats from its traditional and authentic Dutch bakery, such as Saucizenbroodjes (Dutch sausage rolls) or Tijgerbrood (tiger bread) are alone worth the trip.

No sun? Shopping is always fun. Holland’s city center, which primarily includes 8th Street, River Ave, and some of the cross streets in town, offers a wide variety of shopping distractions for days when the water is too rough for a boat ride.

You will find everything from boutiques, like the popular clothing stores Frances Jaye and jb and me boutique, to sporting good stores, antiques shops, and a few Michigan favorites, like Cherry Republic.

Local favorite, Crane’s in the City, serves up soups, sandwiches and other staples. However, those in the know go for the heavenly pie made fresh with fruit from nearby Crane Orchards. Of course, no day of shopping would end properly without a stop for fudge at Kilwins, frozen gelato at Peachwave or frozen yogurt at Whit’s.

At last

The West Michigan lakeshore has one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the world. Whether you run across the big lake from Milwaukee or Chicago, or trailer your boat over from Detroit, Holland is a beautiful Michigan destination.

Visit Holland to sail on Lake Macatawa or to run your powerboat down to The Bowl, the natural formation that has become a favorite local spot. Visit Holland to fish or to catch a spectacular sunset from the deck of a paddle wheeler.

No matter the reason, just visit.