Holland

History

Ottawa County was originally populated by Ottawa Indians. In 1846, Reverend George Smith established the Old Wing Mission as an outreach to the native population. The Ottawa living here were primarily practicing Catholics, but Smith tried converting them to Protestantism. While generally unsuccessful in converting the Native population, the two groups worked together relatively closely for a short time. This attempt to work and live together was not valued by the next group who arrived.

Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr. Albertus van Raalte. Dire economic conditions in the Netherlands compelled them to emigrate.

Van Raalte and his colony settled on land in the midst of the Ottawa (Odawa) people's Old Wing Mission Colony near the Macatawa River (also known as the Black River) where it streams into Lake Macatawa (Called Black Lake prior to June 4, 1935) which, in turn, leads to Lake Michigan via a channel. The Dutch settlers and the Ottawa people never got along. Dutch settlers began stealing sugar and venison from the Ottawa. The Dutch were unwilling to accept the Ottawa people's mix of Catholic and Native culture. Soon, Dutch leaders tried to force the natives into wooded land in Allegan County. Eventually, the natives moved north to preserve their way of life and culture. Chief Peter Waukazoo and Reverend George Smith decided to move the community and the Ottawa Mission from Holland up to Northport (on the Leelanau Peninsula), voyaging on boats and canoes.

In Holland's early history, Van Raalte was a spiritual leader, as well as overseeing political, educational and financial matters. In 1847, Van Raalte established a congregation of the Reformed Church in America, which would later be called the First Reformed Church of Holland. On March 25, 1867, Holland was incorporated as a city with Isaac Cappon being the city's first mayor.

October 1871 Fire

The city suffered a major fire on October 8–10, 1871, at the same time as the Great Chicago Fire in Illinois and the very deadly Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin. Due to the Great Michigan Fire (which included the Port Huron Fire of 1871), Manistee and Port Huron, Michigan, also burned at the same time. Also known as the Great Midwest fires, the series of fires across Michigan claimed approximately 500 lives, though the exact death toll remains unknown. The vast majority of downtown burned in the fire, claiming 1 life in the aftermath of the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. There are a number of theories about what caused the fire. The congruence with the Chicago fire has led to some claims of a link, such as embers floating over Lake Michigan to start the Holland Fire. However, one of the theories is rather fantastical and hence fairly unlikely: that burning methane gas from a passing comet led to the fires. The most likely explanation remains that strong winds strengthened a small brush fire, first igniting the nearby forests before burning the town itself. However, no definitive explanation for the fires have ever been given, and the exact cause remains unknown.

Geography

Holland is located at 42.7875235, -86.1089301.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.450 sq mi (45.20 km2), of which, 16.683 sq mi (43.21 km2) is land and 0.767 sq mi (1.99 km2) is water.

Holland is divided between southwestern Ottawa and northwestern Allegan counties, with 32nd Street forming the county line. Of the city's total area, 9.08 sq mi (23.52 km2) are in Ottawa County, and the remaining 8.13 sq mi (21.06 km2) in Allegan County. The nearby city of Zeeland is located about 5 miles (8.0 km) from downtown Holland. The county seat of Ottawa County, Grand Haven, is located about 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of downtown Holland, while the county seat of Allegan County, the city of Allegan, is located about 22 miles (35 km) southeast of downtown Holland.

The city is located adjacent to (south of) the Macatawa River and Lake Macatawa, both of which flow westerly into Lake Michigan. The downtown core of Holland is roughly 5.25 miles (8.45 km) east of Lake Michigan.

Neighborhoods

Holland Heights

Westside

Washington Square

Historic District

Hope

Rosa Parks

Maplewood

South End

Downtown

Climate

Holland has a Midwestern humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb/Dfa) that is influenced by the Great Lakes, and is part of USDA Hardiness zone 6b.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Holland had a population of 34,378. Of that, 26,648 (77.5%) lived in Ottawa County, and 7,730 (22.5%) lived in Allegan County. The population density of the entire city was 2,060.7/sq mi (795.6/km2). The median age was 34.5 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18, including 5.1% under age 5, and 17.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.4 males age 18 and over.

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 12,747 households and 7,880 families in the city. Of all households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 45.0% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,512 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 33,051 people, 12,021 households, and 7,593 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,992.3/sq mi (769.2/km2). There were 13,212 housing units at an average density of 796.4/sq mi (307.5/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 80.0% White alone, 3.6% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.2% from some other races and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 22.7% of the population.

There were 12,021 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.8% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the city was 31.7 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 21% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

Economy

Holland is home to the world's largest pickle factory. The H.J. Heinz Company opened the factory at the same location in 1897, and processes over 1 million lbs. of pickles per day during the green season.

Adient – automotive seating

Haworth – office furniture

Herman Miller – home and office furniture

Johnson Controls – lithium-ion batteries

LG Chem – lithium-ion batteries

Tiara Yachts – luxury yachts/wind turbines

Kraft Heinz – pickles, sauces, mustards

Magna – engineered glass and mirrors

Boxed Water is Better – a packaged water beverage

Arts and culture

Holland's Dutch-American heritage is reflected in a number of its cultural institutions and landmarks. Windmill Island Gardens contains De Zwaan, a Dutch windmill that was relocated from the Netherlands to Holland in 1964; Windmill Island opened to the public the following year. De Zwaan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

The Holland Museum presents exhibits on the history of Holland and collections of Dutch art and artifacts. The museum also operates two historic houses. The Cappon House, built in 1874, was the home of Holland's first mayor, Isaac Cappon. The Settlers House was built around 1867, survived the Holland fire of 1871, and has been restored to represent a working-class household of that period.

The Holland Downtown Historic District, centered primarily on Eighth Street and River Avenue, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Downtown Holland also uses a municipal snowmelt system in which heated water is circulated through pipes beneath streets and sidewalks to melt snow and ice.

Latin Americans United for Progress organizes an annual Fiesta in Holland featuring music, food, dance and other events celebrating Latino culture.

Holland is also associated with the popularization of the "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelets. In 1989, Janie Tinklenberg, then a youth leader at Calvary Reformed Church in Holland, developed the bracelets as a reminder for members of her youth group; they subsequently became widely distributed Christian merchandise.

Tourism

Holland hosts the annual Tulip Time Festival in May. The festival originated after Holland High School biology teacher Lida Rogers proposed in 1927 that tulips be used as a civic beautification project and as a recognition of the city's Dutch heritage. The city purchased 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands in 1928, and the first Tulip Time celebration was held when they bloomed in 1929. Festival activities include tulip displays, parades and Dutch cultural performances. Attendance varies by year; festival organizers reported 895,153 visitors during the May 1–10, 2026 festival.

Near the city, Holland State Park has separate units on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa, on the northern side of the channel connecting the two lakes. From the park, visitors can view the Holland Harbor Light, commonly known as "Big Red", across the channel.

Government

The City of Holland uses a council/manager form of government. The day-to-day operations of the city are under the supervision of the city manager and their staff. The city manager is responsible for selecting all department heads, preparation of the budget and supervision of all employees through their appointments.

The city manager serves at the direction of the mayor and city council which are elected positions. The current city manager is Keith Van Beek, former Ottawa County deputy county administrator, who was appointed in February 2018 by the city council.

Holland's city charter requires a mayor and eight city council members. The mayor serves a two-year term, and two at-large council members and six ward council members each serve four-year terms.

The current mayor is Nathan Bocks, a local attorney elected in November 2019.

City council members as of December 2023 are:

Ward 1 - Tim Vreeman

Ward 2 - Lyn Raymond

Ward 3 - Bylnda Sól

Ward 4 - Kim Rowan

Ward 5 - Scott Corbin

Ward 6 - Devin Shea

At-Large - Michael Schultheis

At-Large - Quincy Byrd

The Holland Board of Public Works was created in 1883. It provides electricity, water and sewer services.

In February 1996, the Holland City Council approved a sister city relationship between Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico, and the City of Holland.

Education

Higher-level academic institutions

Hope College, a private four-year liberal arts college

Western Theological Seminary, a graduate and professional school

Grand Valley State University, with a campus in Holland (land donated to GVSU by the Meijer family)

Davenport University, with a regional campus in Holland

Grand Rapids Community College, Lakeshore Campus

Public schools

Within Ottawa County, almost all of Holland is within Holland Public Schools, except for a sliver to the northeast.

Within Allegan County, much of Holland is in Holland Public Schools while the rest is in Hamilton Community Schools.

Other educational institutions:

Black River Public School, a charter school with kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and high school students

Vanderbilt Charter Academy (K-8)

Thompson M-TEC (adult training), a partnership between the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and Grand Rapids Community College

Eagle Crest Charter Academy

Private schools

Holland Christian Schools (includes Holland Christian High School)

Corpus Christi Catholic School

Calvary Schools of Holland

Holland Seventh-day Adventist School

Transportation

The city is served by West Michigan Regional Airport, the Park Township Airport having closed on August 15, 2020. The airport is not served by regularly scheduled commercial carriers; the nearest airport with airline service is Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, about 35 mi (56 km) northeast.

The city also is served by regularly scheduled Amtrak service (the Pere Marquette) east to Grand Rapids and west to Chicago with connections to all points east and west.

The city and surrounding area is served by the MAX (Macatawa Area Express) transportation system, which offers both on-demand and high-speed bus service, linking different parts of the city as well as commercial, medical and government locations outside the city. This service evolved from the former "Dial-A-Ride Transportation" (DART) system.

The city is served by the following highways:

I-196 (Gerald R. Ford Freeway)

BL I-196

US 31

M-40

A-2

The channel between Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan allows pleasure craft and commercial boats, even bulk freighters, to access Holland's docks to unload coal, salt and iron scrap.

Media

Newspapers

Holland Sentinel, Holland's local daily newspaper/online edition

Grand Rapids Press, formerly maintained a Holland newsroom and circulation office

Radio

WHTC, 1450 WHTC and The New 99.7 FM

WYVN, classic Hits for Holland and the Lakeshore, 92.7 FM

WTHS - Hope College radio station, 89.9 FM

Television

HCTV, Holland local television station

Notable people

Holland is the hometown of four Medal of Honor recipients (tied with Pueblo, Colorado, both more than any other municipality in the United States): John Essebagger Jr., Paul Ronald Lambers, Matt Urban, and Gordon Douglas Yntema.

Arts and media

Harry Bannister, actor

Rhoda Janzen, author and Hope College professor

Laurel Massé, jazz singer and founding member of The Manhattan Transfer; born in Holland

Kennedy McMann, actress; born in Holland

Lisa McMann, young-adult fiction writer; born in Holland

James Michael, singer, songwriter, and record producer; attended Holland High School

Milton J. Nieuwsma, writer, Emmy-winning filmmaker

Sufjan Stevens, singer-songwriter; attended Hope College and wrote the song "Holland" for his 2003 album Michigan

Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, composer, pianist, and educator

Valerie van Heest, author, explorer, and museum designer

Brian Vander Ark, lead singer of The Verve Pipe

Business and technology

D. J. De Pree, founder and longtime president of Herman Miller

Max DePree, writer, industrialist, and former CEO of Herman Miller

Gerrard Wendell Haworth, founder of Haworth

Charles Limbert, furniture designer and manufacturer who operated a factory in Holland

Rob Malda, founder of Slashdot

Nathan Oostendorp, founder of Everything2

Edgar Prince, engineer and industrialist

Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater USA

Education and science

Mary Bruins Allison, physician and medical missionary; born in Holland

James Bultman, longtime educator and former president of Hope College

David Myers, psychologist and author; longtime Hope College professor

Morris Steggerda, anthropologist and geneticist; born in Holland and graduated from Hope College

Gordon Van Wylen, engineer and former president of Hope College

John Paul Visscher, protozoologist; born in Holland and graduated from Hope College

Maurice Visscher, cardiovascular physiologist; born in Holland and graduated from Hope College

Nicholas J. Vogelzang, oncologist and cancer researcher; born in Holland

Government and law

Robert Danhof, jurist

John R. Dethmers, Michigan attorney general and chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court; practiced law in Holland

Betsy DeVos (born 1958), U.S. secretary of education, 2017–2021

Gerrit J. Diekema, U.S. representative and minister to the Netherlands; born in Holland and served as mayor

Pete Hoekstra, U.S. representative, 1993–2011; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2004–2007; ambassador to the Netherlands

Robert James Jonker, U.S. district judge; born in Holland

William C. Vandenberg (1884–1971), 49th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan

Military

John Essebagger Jr. (d. 1951), U.S. Army corporal, Korean War; Medal of Honor

Paul Ronald Lambers (d. 1970), U.S. Army staff sergeant, Vietnam War; Medal of Honor

Charles Symmonds, U.S. Army general

Matt Urban (d. 1995), U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, World War II; Medal of Honor

Gordon Douglas Yntema (d. 1968), U.S. Army sergeant, Vietnam War; Medal of Honor

Religion and activism

Gijsbert Haan, Dutch-American religious leader and early Holland settler

Alex Koroknay-Palicz, youth rights advocate

Albertus van Raalte, Dutch Reformed minister who founded Holland and helped establish Hope College

Sports

Franklin Cappon, basketball coach at Michigan and Princeton

Kirk Cousins, NFL quarterback; attended Holland Christian High School

Lane Hutson, NHL player; born in Holland

Morley Jennings, College Football Hall of Fame player and coach; born in Holland

Ron Schipper, longtime Hope College football coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame

Joel Smeenge, NFL defensive end; born in Holland

Herman Stegeman, college athlete, coach, and athletic director

Andy Van Hekken, professional baseball player

Luke Witkowski, professional hockey player

George Zuverink, Major League Baseball pitcher; born in Holland