Holland
Dutch holiday rituals, heated sidewalks and a new ice ribbon give this lakeshore town unusually good winter manners.
Kerstmarkt is the Dutch Christmas-market tradition transplanted to Eighth Street.
A pickle factory in disguise
At Hops, ask about the curved bar's former life around Heinz vinegar tanks, then find the school brass and chicken-brooder lights. Lunch comes with a better salvage tour than most museums permit.
Snow underfoot, then deliberately absent
Rent skis at Pigeon Creek when conditions allow, then return for a snowmelt-sidewalk walk and hot coffee at Lemonjello's. Compare two very different municipal approaches to snow.
Saturday: deBoer North, Pigeon Creek skiing and Seventy-Six dinner; add a ticketed holiday event in season. Sunday: Lemonjello's, a snowmelt walk, a short Holland State Park look and Boatwerks lunch.
Windmill breakfast → Holland Museum → skating at the Ice Park → Hops dinner → Kerstmarkt or Magic at the Mill when scheduled.
- 01
deBoer Bakkerij North
Pancakes, Dutch Bennies and bakery provisions; the North location closes Sundays and Mondays.
360 Douglas Ave, Holland, MI 49424 · 616-396-2253 · Website ↗
- 02
Windmill Restaurant
All-day breakfast in a homey downtown diner: the inexpensive classic.
28 W 8th St, Suite 220, Holland, MI 49423 · 616-392-2726 · Website ↗
- 03
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant
A Lake Macatawa dinner with the water framed through warm windows.
216 Van Raalte Ave, Holland, MI 49423 · 616-396-0600 · Website ↗
Buttermilk-style pancakes
For a home breakfast, fold buttermilk, eggs and melted butter into a simple flour-and-leavening batter without beating it smooth. Griddle small pancakes and add warm fruit; this is a home riff, not the bakery's formula.
Three things most people walk past.
- Wall lights made from E.E. Fell Middle School brass kick-plates and door handles.
- The curved bar rail made from hardwood supports once used beneath Heinz pickle-vinegar tanks.
- Entrance-area lights made from old Michigan chicken brooders.
- 01
New Holland Brewing, Holland Brewpub
The flagship brewpub pours beer, spirits and non-alcoholic options with a full menu.
- 02
Our Brewing Company
Small-batch beer, cider and cocktails; outside food is welcome because the focus stays on the drinks.
- 03
Hops at 84 East
A beer-led downtown evening with dinner and an unusually resourceful interior.
- 01
Lemonjello's Coffee
A longstanding community coffee stop with its own bakery and room to pause.
- 02
deBoer Bakkerij North
Coffee with a bakery counter close enough to undermine a small breakfast; closed Sunday and Monday.
360 Douglas Ave, Holland, MI 49424 · 616-396-2253 · Website ↗
- 01
Skate the pond and ice ribbon
Published target season November 20, 2026–March 14, 2027, weather permitting. Advance online tickets include skates; curling is booked separately.
- 02
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding
Groomed ski routes, rental lodge and sledding hill operate with suitable snow; use the county's live winter-conditions page before driving.
- 03
Holland Ice Park
skates and curling equipment with separately booked activities
- Reserve Magic at the Mill and Ice Park sessions ahead; holiday spontaneity still needs a ticket.
- Use North deBoer's on Tuesday–Saturday; choose Windmill or Lemonjello's for a Sunday start.
- Sinterklaas appears in the seasonal program alongside the American Santa parade.
- deBoer's family bakery story began in the Netherlands and continued in Holland in 1956.
- Heinz pickle-vinegar tanks supplied some of the wood now used at Hops.
Local customAt Our Brewing Company, bringing food from a neighboring restaurant is welcome.
November 13, 2026, 6–9 p.m.
Shop 'Til You Drop
Late shopping with participating businesses' holiday promotions.
November 21, 2026, 5–8 p.m.
Holiday Open House
Carolers, chestnuts and a decorated downtown launch the season.
Selected Fridays and Saturdays, November 20–December 19, 2026
Kerstmarkt
Outdoor artisan stalls and Dutch holiday-market traditions.
December 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Parade of Lights
A bright procession along the downtown's main street.
December 1–5, 2026; individual events may require tickets
Dutch Winterfest
Dutch holiday traditions, cultural tastings and the new Dutch Skate program.
December 4–5, 11–12 and 18–19, 2026, 5–9 p.m.
Magic at the Mill
The windmill and LED tulip field light up; advance tickets required.
December 12, 2026, 8–11 a.m.
Shopping Jam
Early shopping discounts for those willing to set an alarm.
February 5–6, 2027; confirm individual activity times
Holland on Ice & Snowmelt 5K
Ice carving and a run on the snowmelt route.
February 13, 2026–January 30, 2027
We the People exhibition
A West Michigan look at American identity during the nation's 250th year.
- 01
Haworth Hotel
A design-minded Hope College hotel in easy reach of downtown winter plans.
225 College Ave, Holland, MI 49423 · 616-395-7200 · Website ↗
- 02
Tulyp, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
The former CityFlats property under its current Tulyp name, with large downtown windows.
- 03
Courtyard by Marriott Holland Downtown
A central Eighth Street base that keeps much of the weekend on foot.
Bring a little Holland homeA Little More Winter printFor the wall you look at when it is July and you miss this.Have a look ↗