Windmill Island is an oasis of beauty located within the city of Holland, Michigan. It's a 36-acre municipal park filled with well-tended gardens, canals, dikes, and a 240-year-old, authentic Dutch windmill that produces stone-ground flour.
The "De Zwaan,'' as the windmill is called, means "graceful bird'' - an apt name as the windmill towers over the island park and its stunning palette of colorful flowers and sights. It is the only authentic Dutch windmill in operation in the United States.
The island also features an antique, hand-painted Dutch carousel that's more than 100 years old. The antique carousel is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that was imported from East Groningren, the Netherlands in 1971. The carousel features hand-made animal figures and a barrel organ that plays music produced from paper music albums, which can play for two hours without repeating. The carousel stands more than 15 feet tall and is more than 25 feet wide, making it one of the island's most noteworthy attractions.
The island is particularly beautiful in the spring, when more than 150,000 tulips are in bloom, coinciding with the Holland area's renowned Tulip Time Festival in early May. The festival draws more than half a million visitors and was named by Reader's Digest in 2004 as the "Best Small Town Festival in America.'' In the summer months, flowers and annuals continue to cover the island in a sea of colorful and fragrant blooms.
Other attractions on the island include the Posthouse Museum, which is an exact replica of a 14th-century wayside inn. Inside, visitors are entertained by a 12-minute presentation about Windmills, including the island's own De Zwaan, and The Netherlands.
There is also a miniature Netherlands Village on display, and the sights and sounds of costumed dancers performing in old-time klompen (wooden shoes). A number of souvenir shops offer mementos of a visit to the island, and treats such as the area's world-famous fudge abound.
There are also costumed guides and tours, as well as a number of additional Dutch displays and shops.
Around the island lies the city of Holland, Michigan, which is a blend of traditional Dutch architecture, ambiance, and some of the most solemn aspects of the culture, combined with modern diversity and charm.
In addition to the Dutch culture and attractions, the area boasts an array of recreational activities, beautiful beaches, galleries and unique shops, visual and performing arts, and exceptional dinining.
The city of Holland has also been honored with a number of awards, including being named one of the country's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations'' by the National Trust for Historic Preservation; "One of the Top Five Places to Retire,'' by Money Magazine; and an "All America City'' by the National Civic League. Downtown Holland even has a unique "snowmelt system'' that keeps its streets and walkways clear and dry in winter.
Together, Windmill Island and Holland make for a destination that is rich in Dutch culture and history, as well as small-town charm in a beautiful setting along the shores of Lake Michigan.
I would like to use the details and pictures used for an article in our magazine, 'The Key Frame' and I would like your permission to do so.
smith
If granted, I would be pleased to send a copy of the issue of the magazine in which the article appears and to credit the authors of text and pictures used and of course, Windmill Island,
Dave Smith