The city of Holland situated in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula close to Lake Macatawa. It is located in two counties: Ottawa, where it is the largest city, and Allegan County.
Neighborhoods in Holland include Downtown, the Historic District, Holland Heights, Hope, Maplewood, Montello Park, Rosa Parks Green, South End, Washington Square, and Westside.
Characterized by its Dutch heritage, which is not only an integral part of the city's history, but the local economy as well, Holland hosts the Tulip Time Festival each May, and there are several Dutch-themed attractions and events within the city. Downtown Holland is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and De Zwaan, a 250-year-old Dutch windmill, is located on Windmill Island.
In 1847, Dutch Calvinist separatists, led by an immigrant pastor from the Netherlands named Albertus Christian Raalte settled in the area. About sixty men, women, and children followed VanRaalte on what was to be a 47-day trek from Rotterdam to New York in order to buy land in Wisconsin. As luck would have it, they were delayed in Detroit due to weather conditions. While in Detroit. They heard about land available in Michigan and they set out to scout the area. They ended their trek on February 9, 1847, on the banks of Black Lake, which is now called Lake Macatawa.
The settlers, along with hundreds who followed them from the Netherlands, built sheds from the trees they felled in the dense forest nearby and sold what was left. It turned out to be a difficult place to live as the colonists clashed with the local indigenous people called the Ottawa. The new settlers soon bought the land from them, and most of their Ottawa neighbors moved out.
A smallpox epidemic swept through Michigan in 1848 just as the population of the region began to experience a population explosion, many of the settlers left their farms in an eclectic fleet of canoes and boats, following Reverend George Smith and Chief Peter Waukazoo to the north of Holland. There, they established another colony, which they named Waukazooville in honor of Chief Waukazoo. The name of the town would one day be changed to Northport.
Meanwhile, back in Holland, Michigan, after VanRaalte found he could not get the government to send aid to help the settlers prepare an aqueduct channel to Lake Michigan, so they picked up shovels and picks and did it themselves. Additionally, they cleared a block of land in the middle of the colony which was to be the market square. It stands today as Centennial Park.
In 1867, Holland was incorporated as a city, and in 1871, two rail spurs served the settlement, and the residents looked forward to economic growth. But the new city experienced a major fire that burned for two full days beginning on October 8, 1871, at the same time the Great Chicago Fire as well as the Peshtigo Fire, which is to this date the most deadly fire in the world. Slowly, Holland rebuilt and strengthened with help from neighboring towns, and in the next few years, the townspeople had the luxury of electrical service, a public water service, a telephone system, and free mail delivery and pickup provided by Holland.
By the beginning of the 20th Century Holland’s economy was booming, with a first-rate transportation system, which allowed industrial growth, including lumber-related industries, furniture manufacturing, and an agricultural market. As the 20th century dawned, there were notable businesses such as the Heinz Pickle factory and the Holland Furnace Company, In the 1920s, thousands of tourists came to the area to enjoy resorts that thrived at Ottawa Beach and Macatawa Park despite the Ottawa Beach Hotel burning to the ground in November 1923.
In 1927, a biology teacher at Holland High had the idea to import tulips from the Netherlands to beautify the city. The tulips arrived in 1928 and in 1930, word went out about the first Tulip Time festival, and 50,000 tourists arrived to enjoy it.
Holland is frequently referred to as the “City of Churches” due to the fact that there are more than 170 churches there. Most of these churches belong to two denominations: Christian Reformed Church in North America and Reformed Church in America. Additionally, Holland is the city that housed Calvary Reformed Church, the church that revived and popularized the “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets and pins in 1989.
Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, both of which are Reformed Church in America, are situated in Holland. It is a sister city to Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.
The chief routes through the city are I-196, Business I-196, US-31, and M-40.
The focus of this guide is on the City of Holland, Michigan. Topics related to the city itself, or to any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, or sporting and recreational opportunities within the city are appropriate for this category.
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Located in Holland, Michigan, the company’s manufacturing and sales operations are in the same facility. A description of the manufacturing process is given, along with the address, phone number, and business hours of the company. Its products, which include youth mattresses, latex, foam, mattress toppers, traditional mattresses, and custom orders, are featured, including solid wood furniture, all manufactured at its facilities in Holland. Job opportunities and a blog are included.
https://buismattress.net/
Formerly known as the Second Floor Bakery, the Holland, Michigan bakery creates desserts from real, fresh, local ingredients, including stop-and-go orders and custom desserts, made from all flavors, fillings, shapes, and sizes. Popular items include specialty cakes, custom cupcakes, cake pops, Carmel corn, cheesecakes, and cookies. Its location, hours of operation, contacts, and online ordering are set forth, along with an introduction to the proprietor, as well as a gallery of photographs.
https://thecakabakery.com/
Situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, on Lake Macatawa, fed by the Macatawa River, Holland is in both Ottawa County and Allegan County. The official municipal website posts city council meeting agendas and minutes, city ordinances, and various documents and forms. Through the site, visitors can apply for business licenses or permits, view employment opportunities, and contacts for city offices, mayor, council, and city leadership team. Also included are videos and a visitor guide.
https://www.cityofholland.com/
Formed to promote tourism in Holland, Michigan, the Bureau offers a guide to the community that includes photos and links to additional information about local attractions, hotels, and other guest accommodations. A printed visitors guide is available upon request or may be viewed in digital format. Other resources include maps and travel tips, group tours and travel programs, meeting planning, wedding venues, and instructions for participating in a photo contest.
https://www.holland.org/
Holland Community Aquatic Center
Opened in 1968, the HCAC was owned and operated by the Holland Public School System until 1992, when its operation was passed to the newly created Holland Area Community Swimming Pool Authority, an independent municipal entity whose borders are identical to that of the public school district. Adjacent to Holland Hospital, its schedules, fitness programs, swim school, and Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics, a swim and dive team. News and updates are published on the site, and contacts are included.
https://www.hollandaquaticcenter.org/
Begun by Larry J. Bakker in 1968, the full-service landscaping company serves a large area of West Michigan through its fleet of over a hundred trucks and fifty off-road and specialized pieces of equipment, offering hardscape, outdoor living spaces, outdoor lighting, lawn installations, plant installations, water features, and commercial landscaping, as well as lawn care, lawn mowing services, sports turf care, site care, color planting, and seasonal services.
https://www.landscapeds.com/
Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce
Headquartered in Holland, Michigan, the Chamber represents member businesses, serving as a catalyst for business growth within the greater Holland and Zeeland region. Its leadership program and other programs are highlighted, with a calendar of meetings and events, membership levels, a member directory, member news, and information about member discount programs. Membership packages are posted and may be purchased online. Various business tools are included.
https://www.westcoastchamber.org/
Located at Baker Lofts Suites on East 24th Street, Holland, Michigan, NetWerks is a regional West Michigan technology consulting and support company offering IT services to small and medium-sized businesses, on-site and remote support services, and other specialized services, which include website design and creation, strategic planning, PC support, virus protection, backup and disaster recovery, training, network design and maintenance, server installation and support, and others.
https://netwerksllc.net/
