Tulip Time Guide From a Holland Local
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Tulip Time is one of the most magical times to visit Holland, Michigan. There are over 5 million tulips blossoming all around our city. I’ve lived in Holland my whole life and I’m excited to share my favorite parts about our Dutch festival with you.
Local insider tip: To avoid all the tourist crowds, visit Holland the week before the Tulip Time begins. If you’re here for the tulips and shops but not specific Tulip Time events, definitely come early! You’ll get the tulip fields to yourself for photoshoots. That’s when I like to experience Tulip Time the best and I generally avoid the whole downtown area during the actual week of Tulip Time. You can always visit the week after as well. Holland plants all different kinds of tulips to bloom early and late so that no matter when you visit you’ll see blooms.
Tulip Time Fireworks
To kick off Tulip Time, Holland always hosts a firework show at Kollen Park the Saturday before Tulip Time week. Bring a blanket and your favorite snacks to watch the beautiful firework display.
Windmill Island Gardens
This is my #1 favorite place to visit to see the tulips. It’s $10 to enter for adults during Tulip Time but it is worth it! There are the cutest shops, an antique carousel, tulip fields and a giant windmill straight from The Netherlands.
Window on the Waterfront
If you’re looking for a free place to see thousands of tulips, check out Window on the Waterfront. Just a few blocks from the downtown area is this gorgeous park dedicated to tulips. I love this park in particular because the tulips are planted in winding paths that you can walk through. This is a great place to take photos, especially at sunset.
Visit Holland during other times of the year! We are at our most beautiful in the fall and at Christmas.
Deboer Bakkerij
Deboer’s is the perfect place to pick something up for breakfast. You can walk in and get something to-go from the bakery. They have traditional Dutch baked goods that are amazing! I always get the ham and cheese croissant or chocolate croissant. Their to go food is affordable and there is a sit down restaurant at Deboer’s but I’ve never eaten there. There are two locations, the original is on Douglas Ave. but you can visit the south location because it’s closest to the downtown festivities.
Kollen Park
Take your baked goods a block over to Kollen Park. It’s located right on Lake Macatawa and has gorgeous views of Holland. There’s a nice boardwalk to walk along the water and a playground for kids. This park is close by downtown but still far enough away that it’s less frequented during Tulip Time. Lush and inviting, Kollen Park is a great place to rest and have a picnic.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park is a must-visit when you’re walking through downtown Holland. The park is filled with flowers and surrounded by giant, mature trees. Be sure to see the Wizard of Oz display and follow the yellow brick road to the library. The author Frank Baum used to vacation in Holland and it was part of his inspiration for writing the book. Try to get here early during the day because this park will be packed during peak Tulip Time hours.
Downtown Holland
Arguably the best part about Tulip Time is walking through historic Downtown Holland. My two favorite shops are the Peanut Store for candy and Downtown Antiques for vintage shopping. If you walk west down 8th St. you’ll run into the carnival. It is brought here for Tulip Time but it’s a skip for me, visit the rides at Dutch Village instead for a better Holland experience. You’ll also find concession stands all over the downtown area for your elephant ear fix.
Nelis’ Dutch Village
If you’re traveling with kids be sure to visit Dutch Village. I have the fondest memories of riding the carousel and chair swing ride when I was little. There’s a petting zoo and the most adorable little shops to browse. You can eat authentic Dutch food here, see live Dutch Dancers and buy handmade souvenirs. While you’re at Dutch Village check out Harvest Antiques next door which is featured in my Best Antique Stores in West Michigan list.
Check out some adorable vintage Tulip Time souvenirs to remember your trip by.
Dutch Dancing
See Holland residents dance in their Dutch costumes and wooden shoes in Downtown Holland. You can check out the event calendar for the Dutch Dancing schedule to see the locations and times they’ll be dancing. If you hear peppy organ music in the distance, be sure to walk towards it and you’ll see traditional Dutch dancing at its best.
Russ’ Restaurant
Russ’ is one of my favorite places to eat in Holland and serves authentic Dutch food like pea soup. I love getting the fried chicken dinner and their peanut butter pie. Russ’ has three locations in Holland and they provide takeout. They also have drive-thru windows but you need to order in advance. The Dutch folks in Holland are known for being cheap, so naturally Russ’ has cheap prices and is a favorite among locals.
Tulip Lanes
Get in your car and drive through the Tulip Lanes. First, stop by Captain Sundae for the best ice cream and drive through town for gorgeous views of the Tulips. You’ll pass by charming historic houses and see thousands of tulips. Check out this Tulip Time map to see where you can find the Tulip Lanes.
For more information about all the events check out the Tulip Time website. I hope you’ll come to visit our festival! Be sure to check out my year round Holland guide for shop and restaurant recommendations.
Here are some other great travel Michigan recommendations!
