9 minute read
Port of Call: Holland, MI
Big Red Lighthouse
Lake Macatawa
Smaller Michigan lakes provided shelter from unpredictable weather for early marine travelers, later becoming destinations for commercial traffic as the Midwest changed from just a pathway to the Western states into a thriving haven for settlers leaving the East for greener pastures and fresher waters.
Founded in 1847, Holland, Michigan, was the last stop for a group of Dutch settlers escaping economic and religious troubles when an early winter storm prevented them from reaching their original Wisconsin destination. Hearing about available land in West Michigan, the group’s leader, the Rev. Albertus Van Raalte, moved his band of weary travelers to the shores of Black Lake, now called Lake Macatawa. There, Van Raalte and his flock created the foundation for what would become the thriving community of Holland.
The original Dutch settler’s influence is still visible throughout the town of Holland today, where windmills, tulips and wooden shoes lend their name and likeness to countless businesses, buildings and parks.
Getting there Located on the West Michigan coast about 50 miles north of the Indiana border, Holland is an accessible destination for boaters who call the towns along the Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin shoreline their home ports.
Holland lies on a northwest heading from Chicago and is a little southeast of Milwaukee. From either city, the trip across Lake Michigan will take approximately four to five hours at a 20-knots cruise depending on the boat and conditions of course.
The inlet to Lake Macatawa is approximately seven miles north of Saugatuck and 20 miles south of Grand Haven. Both towns also make great day trip destinations for boaters spending time in Holland.
Skippers arriving from any direction should have no problem spotting one of Holland’s most famous landmarks, the historic lighthouse known as Big Red. Visible for nearly 13 miles on a clear day, the brightly colored, still-functioning lighthouse has been providing guidance to Great Lakes vessels since 1870.
Although Big Red provides an easy-to-spot visual aid to mariners, boaters approaching the inlet should be aware that the true entrance is farther out from shore and just north of the red building. The Lake Macatawa inlet is marked by 27-foot-tall red and green lights at the end of its north and south piers.
Once through the inlet, you will find the six-mile- long lake extending from Lake Michigan to the mouth of Black River. There is plenty of water here
for either power or sailboat passage through the channel, and much of the lake is 20 to 25 feet deep.
However, all boaters should take note of the new no-wake zones in Lake Macatawa. Although water levels on the Great Lakes are beginning to drop, a bigger wake could still potentially damage personal property along the waterfront. In Lake Macatawa, or Lake Mac as it’s affectionately known to locals, existing no-wake zones were temporarily extended further from shore and new zones were added to protect resident’s yards, docks and boat lifts. Maps of the new zones are available in many of the marina offices or on Michigan’s DNR website (MICHIGAN.GOV/DNR).
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
Downtown Holland
Tulip Time
Annual Events
Under normal circumstances, Holland has a series of terrifi c summer events. However, due to the pandemic, many events are on hold and may or may not take place this year. Be sure to check with the Holland Visitors Bureau to get current information (HOLLAND.ORG).
All Summer: Organic Farmers Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) March 5 – 7: Girlfriends Weekend April 30 – May 1: Fiesta 2021 May 1 – 9: Tulip Time June 4: Remember When Car Cruise June 26: Great Lakes Paddle Challenge June 26: Holland Pride Celebration June 27: Merchant and Makers Merchant and Makers July 17: Macatawa Water Festival Macatawa Water Festival August 7: Art in the Park Art in the Park August 21: International International Festival September 18 – 19: Civil War Muster Civil War Muster TBD November – December: Holiday Kerstmarkt
Mt. Pisgah
Boatwerks
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. ★
deBoer’s Bakkerjj
Kilwin’s
Marinas
❱❱ Eldean Shipyard 616 335-5843
ELDEAN.COM
❱❱ Yacht Basin Marina 616-786-2205
YACHTBASINMARINA.COM
❱❱ Anchorage Marine 616-399-1802
ANCHORAGEMARINE.COM
❱❱ Ottawa Beach Marina 616-298-1482
