By: Bound2explore              April 10, 2016

Can you experience the Dutch culture in United States? The tulips field, the wooden shoes and the windmill without a stamp on your passport or the need to cross Atlantic Ocean? Apparently you can. Holland, Michigan exactly offers similar experience. From Neil’s Dutch Village, Veldheer Tulips Garden, DeKlomp Wooden Shoe Factory to Windmill Island Garden, Holland definitely gives you a taste of Netherlands. In fact, Holland has become one of tourist destinations in Michigan.

 

Holland, Michigan is situated about three hour drive from Detroit and famous for holding the annual tulips festival. The perfect time to visit is May 7 to May 14, during the time when the tulips are blooming. To give each visitor authentic experience, the windmill was indeed exported from Netherlands and the tour is led by a guide in traditional Dutch costume. As I entered the five stories of the DeZwaan (swan in Dutch) windmill I could smell the flour and fresh bread. There were some bread making demos inside the windmill. I climbed the stairs to go to the upper floor and I could see how the windmill worked to produce the flour.  From the top floor, you can see 360 degrees view of landscape surrounding the DeZwan windmill and when you exit the door on the ground floor, it will take you straight to tulips field.

As I strolled along the tulips field on the Windmill Island Garden with the backdrop of the windmill, I could almost feel like I was in the Netherlands. Savoring the moment among the tulips made me realized that I needed to get the souvenir from the gift store. The gift store is located on the other side of tulips field. Walking across the colorful tulips field will take you to the gift store where you can buy Dutch wooden shoes for souvenir. Under a big white tent, food vendors are ready to offer you a taste of Dutch food. And if you want to share your Dutch experience with friends and family back home, you can buy a bag of stone ground flour to make some bread. When you finish exploring the windmill Island garden, you can continue your trip to Neil’s Dutch Village theme park, DeKlomp Wooden Shoe Factory and enjoy the rest of Holland.