Monday, August 18, 2014

Windmill Island Gardens

Windmill Island Gardens is nestled right at the edge of downtown Holland, Michigan. The windmill that is located in the middle of the tulip gardens is 250 years old and is still a working windmill called DeZaan, meaning graceful bird. There are 36 acres of manicured gardens. The windmill itself is 125 feet tall from the top of the blades to the ground. You can actually buy the stone ground flour that is made at the windmill in the Dutch Village Gift Shop that sits next to the windmill.

The evening I visited the Gardens had closed for the day, but visitors could walk or bike back to the Gardens and Dutch Village. So off I went, albeit a cold front had come through the previous evening, and boy was it a chilly walk, but I persevered.

It was about a one mile hike back to the Dutch Village which housed various shops, a carousel and a conservatory. I snapped images of the back of the windmill as I walked the main road. In Spring there are over 115,000 tulips blooming in the Gardens around the windmill. Seriously, can you imagine 115,000 tulips blooming in all colors in one garden?

The Dutch Village was so quaint and colorful. The main building called the post house is an exact replica of a 14th Century wayside inn. I loved the dots of color on the buildings.

This last image is a smaller replica windmill that sits at the opposite end of the Dutch Village. The Gardens were immaculate and so perfectly manicured. Sadly, I didn't get to see the front of the windmill. I was loosing light fast and had to walk back to my car at the entrance. I seriously underestimated the city of Holland and what it had to offer what with Big Ben Lighthouse, the Windmill Island Gardens and Holland State Park with its huge beach. And Saugatuck and Douglas, the two small beach towns I wanted to visit were only about ten minutes from Holland. It was a great location to set up shop for the week. ENJOY!

2 comments :

  1. What a beautiful windmill! There seems to be a lot of Dutch history in that area. I also love the old brick buildings in the town. Have a great week Carol.

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  2. You picked a fabulous area to vacation. So scenic. I just love the depth of that first shot, Carol. I can't imagine that many tulips - so much color!

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