Thankful for Holland

 HS #124 2025.11.13

 

 Thankful for Holland

 

Several weeks ago, I saw a movie with testimony of a former Holland resident who said that as a teenager, she found Holland boring and somewhat ethnically snooty (Ain’t Dutch, ain’t much.)

Given that teenage years are often ones of discontent, and given that I’m presently 67, the age statistically found to be the happiest (perhaps the best balance of health and freedom), I still found the comment almost laughable. 

 

Granted, Holland is proud of its history. Our annual Tulip Time and the Van Raalte statue in Centennial Park remind Hollanders of our proud heritage. On the other hand, I recently sent Hope College President Matthew Scogin an email suggesting that Hope consider changing its mascot from the Flying Dutch(men). The Flying Dutchman was a legendary ghost ship – kind of cool, but perhaps it has outlived its usefulness to inspire. My own choice would be HOpe College HOney Badgers. Essentially a Wolverine’s little cousin, honey badgers are not only super smart and ferocious fighters, but are also rather handsome. Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36UNSoJenI    and 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGNsZVE5Ik. You’ll be impressed!

 

Be that as it may, Holland as a whole seems to embrace good living for all of its residents. My list below is available to all – and many are free or inexpensive. 

 

Our nearby beaches are obvious, but it’s easy to forget to take advantage of hometown riches. If you haven’t done so recently, take a trip to Oval Beach (Saugatuck), Saugatuck State Park (includes beautiful fall color hike and the Felt Mansion), Laketown Beach (dune to climb), Holland State Park, and Grand Haven State Park. I still get “thankyous” from former Hope students who I introduced to those parks during their college years. For something even closer, walk down the lakeside sidewalk of Kollen Park as the sun sets. I am often there and am surprised more don’t take advantage of it. 

 

Kayaking is available at Pigeon River a few miles north of Holland, or New Richmond Park on the Kalamazoo River just a few miles south of town. I’ve seen osprey and blue heron lately. The Black River is a quick paddle with sounds of Holland all around. The Nature Discovery Center (with its Bird of Prey exhibition and best-I’ve-ever-seen taxidermy) provides a fun afternoon’s outing. 

 

For indoor recreation, the Holland Aquatic Center is one of the best in the country – including weights, cardio, indoor track, and exhilarating water slide. Pickleball courts (both indoor and outdoor) abound. Outdoor are all free and enough indoor that competition keeps the prices low. I just now returned from Holland Charter Township Community Center – one more first-class facility available at a decent price – and free for Silver Sneakers. For those over 55, Evergreen Commons provides all sorts of recreation and activities. 

 

And we have more coming – a multi-season ice rink and mountain bike course. 

 

What about the arts? In the last twenty years, Hope College has built an “arts corridor” along Columbia Avenue including music, theatre, dance, and painting/sculpture. Many of the events are free admission, and the Miller Auditorium provides a space second-to-none. Local churches (Free@3 at First Reformed Holland, Second Series at Second Reformed of Zeeland)  offer monthly programs by area artists in a beautiful space. 

 

And the food! It’s easy to forget, when walking along 8^th Street, that Holland’s population is only 35 thousand. Many such Midwest towns of this size are excited just to have an Apple Bees. A dozen years ago, offered a faculty position at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota (also home of St. Olaf College), I was surprised on my visit to find relatively few good options for dining. I decided to stay in Holland. Even compared to other such college towns, Holland has it good. And we have a new Indian restaurant! 

 

Then there’s our location. We are a short hop from Saugatuck and Grand Haven, two interesting places. Grand Rapids offers the only professional ballet in the state (fantastic!), the Grand Rapids Men and Boys Choir (rarely found out of England), DeVos Hall with many first-class shows, and Meijer Gardens for art of all kinds. Chicago is a three-hour train ride away. 

 

AND! – have you thought of this! Holland is positioned at the far western edge of the Eastern time zone. So we get long summer evenings in which to enjoy all of these opportunities. 

 

So, raise your glass in thankfulness to Holland. If it’s empty, head down to the Farmers Market. At this writing, the Honey Crisp apples are still available.