Windmill Island Gardens

We visited during the tulip festival and it was absolutely gorgeous. I’d highly recommend getting there early on a weekday to avoid long wait times for entrance and to be able to find parking. We got there right at the opening time and there was plenty of parking but it filled up fast. I’d also recommend visiting the gift shop first. We waited til the end to do that and we had stuff picked out, but the line was out of the building so we ended up putting it back.

My wife and I visited Windmill Island Gardens during the Tulip Festival. It was a generally nice experience and definitely worth the price of admission. The flowers were beautiful, and there are plenty of good spots for selfies if you're willing to take a little time setting up your shot. That said, it was pretty crowded, and I was hoping for more in terms of historical value—it felt more like a photo-friendly attraction than an educational one. I’m glad we went, but it’s not something I’d need to do again unless we’re entertaining out-of-town guests. Great for a one-time visit, especially during tulip season!

So cool to go inside of the windmill. Very authentic. I enjoyed the on site interpreter in the mill. It is still operational! The grounds are cool too. They told me they had record breaking attendance in May, 2025 for their tulip festival.

Beautiful gardens! The windmill was really fun to explore! There are fields of tulips but the fields are smaller than what you think! They were very beautiful still! It’s a very cute place to get engaged at like the willow tree or the tulips!

Two things to know before you go: (1) There aren't as many tulips as you'd think, so set reasonable expectations. Photos that depict acres of flowers are all a result of framing; they make everything look more expansive than it really is. That being said, there are plenty of flowers to traipse around and enjoy. (2) Go the weekend BEFORE peak week. The crowds are much more manageable, which means there's more space and time to enjoy the tulips—especially if you're trying to take some nice pictures. Not all the tulips were blooming, but there were still loads that had. (I don't know about you, but I'd rather have slightly fewer flowers and a much smaller crowd.) THE WINDMILL: The windmill is actually pretty cool, and you DO NOT have to pay to walk up the viewing deck (as of April 2025). It's the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the US and was transported from the Netherlands in the 1960s. Pretty awesome stuff. COST: $13 per adult. Not bad at all. Worth it to do at least once. PRO TIP: While this experience is unique and cute and fun (if you have appropriately set expectations), you can see just as many beautiful tulips in downtown Holland, MI. If you don't want to deal with peak week crowds at Windmill Island Gardens, just head downtown and come back another time. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed visiting from out of state during the Tulip Fest! It was a fun experience. I agree with other reviews that the price is high since it is just for admission, nothing else. Other similar experiences I’ve had in other places include more activities in the price of admission. I looked at the map and saw there were horses and a butterfly garden at the back of the property, so I took the trail around. I never saw the horses and the butterfly garden was just a patch of flowers, so I was a bit disappointed in that. Note: I got here shortly after it opened on a Saturday. Parked in the lot and no wait to get in. When I left a couple hours later, I couldn’t believe how long the line was to get in. Definitely longer than what I would have tolerated. Very glad I got there early!

We had a wonderful time at Windmill Island Gardens during the Tulip Time Festival. The entry fee was $15 per person, with both cash and credit cards accepted. While there was a long queue to get in—about a 30-minute wait—the anticipation made the experience feel even more special. For those with young children or older visitors, a shuttle service was available since the road to the entrance was blocked, requiring about a mile-long walk. Once inside, we were greeted by rows upon rows of breathtaking tulips in every imaginable color and pattern—a truly mesmerizing sight. However, it was disappointing to see some children plucking the tulips while their parents remained indifferent. Additionally, some visitors walked straight through the tulip fields, crushing countless blooms in their path, with no one around to enforce preservation efforts. With the festival being a short, once-a-year event, large crowds gathered, each eager to capture the beauty of the flowers. From the windmill, the view of people immersed in the tulip fields was stunning, adding to the lively atmosphere. Portable toilets were available, though we chose not to use them. Despite the challenges of navigating the crowd, the festival was a memorable experience, and we made sure to take a few moments to sit, reflect, and truly absorb the incredible beauty around us

We really enjoyed our visit here as first.timers. There was a staff member inside the windmill that was very knowledgeable about the history of wooden shoe production in Holland and answered all my questions. The tulips fields were not as large as I thought they would be here but still beautiful, a great outdoor space to walk around with the family.

According to everyone, this was the thing to do while in Holland, Michigan. I arrived on the second week of tulip season. It seems like this year it was too hot for the tulips and they didn't last that long. I still got to see a few of them, but the fields were pretty much empty. You can come here to enjoy part of Holland history. They have a huge windmill that you can go into. On the different levels of the windmill, you'll get some history. The workers will also answer any questions you have. I love that the workers are dressed in period clothing. There is a carousel for children. It is included in the ticket price. It only runs twice a one hour. Adults can go on with the children, but cannot sit on the horses. There's also a playground for children to keep entertained The grounds are beautiful and well taken care of. The gift shop was so cute. I loved it. It is my understanding that they have events throughout the year. Parking is available on site and there's plenty of it.

We visited here on Wednesday May 08 during Holland's 2024 Tulip Time Festival Week, May 04 through May 12 this year.  This year, due to warm weather, the tulips bloomed a bit early so we missed the most colorful period.  It was still a delightful day trip for us on a delightful weather day.  For a modest $12 adult admission, you could enjoy a pleasant walk around the grounds, climb through the 3 story authentic Dutch windmill which was relocated from the Netherlands, mill about the shops, enjoy a Dutch street organ demonstration, watch a short video about the gardens and the windmill, and enjoy what tulip colors still remained. At mid-day, their parking lot was filled, and traffic was diverted towards downtown Holland.  You could either park and walk about a mile across the causeway to the island, or just kill some time and wait for the lot to re-open once enough cars have left.  We waited just 15 minutes and got in on a nice close parking spot.  We've never bothered over the years with visiting Holland to see the tulips, and stopping by here made for a nice day trip indeed.  We deliberately avoided Thursday and Saturday as those are the parade days, and the town and the various tulip venues get very over-crowded apparently on parade days and the weekends.  So the pro-tip is to make the trip during a weekday if at all possible, set the bar right for your expectations, and if the weather is beautiful, expect an appropriately bigger crowd.  You can have a 5 star experience here or a 1 star experience (as many reviewers have), so pick the timing of your visit carefully!

My family and I were so excited to finally visit the Windmill Island Gardens during the first day of the Tulip Time Festival on May 4, 2024. Unfortunately, it was a major disappointment. Unless you have money to burn, spend it elsewhere. The city was not prepared for the influx of out-of-town visitors. Due to traffic, it took us nearly an hour to go past four miles. It then took us 45 minutes to find parking, 30 minutes to walk to the Gardens, and then another 30 minutes of waiting in line to enter the grounds. I can see the vision management was going for, but the grounds weren't maintained. It was bad enough that most flowers were already shrived but on top of that, so many kids were plucking flowers and visitors were stomping on tulip beds just to get photos of themselves - absolutely horrible! There should be signs or at least employees restricting people from doing this because it ruins the experience for everyone. The windmill itself was nice but there's not much to see from the top. My family and I do not plan on ever returning to the Gardens.

Whether someone is a history nerd, or a master gardener, has an interest in engineering, or just wants to see something new, there is something here for them. This is a windmill, hundreds of years old, that was moved from the Netherlands, to Holland, MI. There's also a 10:1 replica that was made by the same person that moved it. The gardens are stunning, starting with tulips in the spring, and progressing through perennials over the summer. The windmill is a functional one, open to the public, and it's really impressive to see the technology available 250 years ago. There are cute shops, informational videos, and plenty of walking trails. A great place to spend a few hours.

May 6, 2024 We were told that the tulips were in full bloom last week and due to the heavy rains most of the tulips have died/lost their petals. The island is beautiful. Very lush and clean. As you can see from my photos some tulips survived the early bloom and heavy rains. The ones that survived were breathtaking. I love the fields of tulips by the windmill. It made the perfect photo. Soon as we entered we watched a film on the windmill and how it's still an active mill today. Fascinating, I'm glad we took the time to watch the short film. It made the tour of the windmill more meaningful. It was sad that most of the tulips were spent, but I'm still happy I got to go and get the pictures I wanted of the tulips with the windmill in the background.

We were brought here on the VIP tour we were on. We had a great time. There's a couple shops, food truck, windmill and great grounds. The gardens were said to be designed by the same gardener that did the grand hotel. Definitely worth a visit if in town.

Think carefully before going if the tulips are not blooming. Unfortunately I went in June, so there were no tulips. For us there wasn't enough to do to justify $12 admission. If we had kids with us that were small enough for their merry-go-round (which is no extra charge I believe), perhaps my opinion would have been different. That all being said, the attraction has so much potential. If they could work with (or set up) a local horticultural group, it would be an excellent spot to create a good-sized series of gardens and develop attractions that would be appealing all year round. Suggestion - take a look at Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart, Indiana, a botanic garden that is not particularly large but well developed enough to draw us in whenever we are in the neighborhood.

Windmill island gardens Our first time coming here. Not how I envision it but good. People glorify the images but in reality it's a tame environment. I was expecting a magnificent display of tulips all over. In reality, they are planted in sections and in limited quantities. The windmill is huge! The area is surround by a small stream which must be used for watering the tulips. The bathrooms are located in the main building which is nice. No outhouses or porta potty. No need for extra smells to ruin the smell of tulips. They do have ONE food stand which serves a decent amount of different foods. I strongly suggest you come before the festival, because when it arrives, there is basically no parking spot available. Come and enjoy the tulips. Highly recommended

This is a beautiful place during Tulip Time Festival. This was our first time to this popular event. I heard that it can get pretty crowded so we opted to go during the week. So, with the smaller crowd and the gorgeous weather, it was a perfect day to see the tulips. The Gardens are pretty large and the tulips are all in full bloom. There were so many colors and different types of tulips. It was pretty neat to go to the top of the windmill and see the 360° views. This will definitely be a new tradition for our family to enjoy each year. It is a great way to kick off springtime in Michigan!

What a beautiful thing to see! The lush gardens and working windmill! We visited during Tulip Time so it was probably more crowded than usual. Cute little shops with all things Dutch. They had a display of a miniature Dutch village which was very cool. Visited with my kids and mother. Was happy to see that they had wheelchairs available that we could borrow to venture the grounds. You are able to go inside the windmill and see the inner workings. Very neat thing to experience! They also had a carousel that the kids enjoyed.

What a treasure! Tour the windmill that was brought to the US after WWII and assembled as restored. They have many gardens to tour, a field to fly a kite and more. A relaxing way to send an afternoon.

Wow. We have come for the tulip festival over Mothers day weekend since at least 2019. I think we've missed one year. I have NEVER seen it so barren of any flowers. The only tulips that were still in bloom were rare potted ones and some in very sparse photo beds. We're talking possibly 10% in bloom. Such a disappointing waste of travel time and insanely inflated prices this year. This may very well be our last year coming. Admission price: $42 for family, $200 hotel, plus food/travel. Way too much for our experience. Sadly, I can no longer recommend. This used to be a family tradition and highlight my kids loved to look forward to. Very poor planning and management this year. Windmill also no longer does guided tours since COVID. It's self guided now through 4th floor. 5th is closed off. Port a potty bathrooms (inside available near entrance in visitor center). And the lovely vendors that used to tent on the fields and offer arts and memorabilia are also no longer present. A nice walk around the property, but you can do that for free at a local park.

Take a step back in time to enjoy the authentic international Holland landscape right here in Michigan. A short day trip from Indy, Detroit or Chicago. This park along with downtown shops, and nearby lakeside activities make for a great weekend and summer getaway.

Windmill Island Gardens was lovely during Tulip Time! We brought my kids and though there were a lot of opportunities for pictures, there were a few things that were elderly/child friendly. The windmill was a little confusing/ anti climactic. You go up a bunch of stairs and are sort of rushed through the displays with not a lot of information and then you see the Island from the top of the windmill and then you walk down a bunch of stairs. There wasn't a lot for the children and the gift shop was so overburdened that the line was wrapped around the shop quite a bit. There is a semi confusing path of tourist sites, but when you get to the very back w/ the fields of tulips you go around the gravel and then all of a sudden you have to walk through a field. It would be nice to have a well defined path with tulips along the edges or something. The old carousel was nice but it was very very very slow. The organ was very neat, though potentially an opportunity for improvement would be to expand the little shack holding the organ so that more than 3 people can see at a time.

The Windmill Gardens was definitely on my bucket list for this area. We have lived in Europe for some yrs and traveled to Holland several times to see the famous gardens! Don't miss them if your ever in Holland in the spring time. Now on to this review in Michigan. There is plenty of free parking, want crowed when we visited a few yrs ago. The entrance fee was reasonable priced, ask for a brochure map. The gardens aren't that big, but a map is a great keepsake. Walk around and just take in the beautiful flowers and views, everyone runs to the Windmill located in the far back field. We took our time, and enjoyed all the history. They have food, gifts shops, seating areas thru out and lot of space to spread out. You will learn alot, especially if you have never been to Holland. The windmill was brought over from Holland in pieces, climb up and catch the nice views of the property. Yes you will have to climb up, I didnt see a elevator. I really feel like Michigan did a really nice job of the gardens, again if you wanna see the real deal goooooo to Europe! If not enjoy the USA and its overpriced tourism spots, Lol! Yes I do recommend the Windmill Gardens and make sure you wander a bit downtown, the town is really cute to see. ~Dani she on to the next adventure~

I planned a trip to Holland to check out the area. I saw this place and decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did! My family loved seeing the windmill from the Netherlands and learning about the history. We also greatly enjoyed the little shop with all of the Dutch goodies. It was a really beautiful place to walk around and they had some beautiful flowers, my favorite being the Gladiators. They have a nice little playground area for kids to run around with a few picnic tables nearby as well as a carrousel for the kids to enjoy. I'd say this is a good place for tourists to check out!

So today I had some free time on my hands so we hopped in the car and headed west for Holland, MI to see the tulips. Added bonus I got to see the windmill that was imported all the way from the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the tulips were already done since May but this place was so peaceful please do yourself a favor and check it out if you're in the area you won't be disappointed. Kiss me tulips

Tulip Time 2023 was from Saturday, May 6 to Sunday, May 14. We had a large group of 14 and wanted to avoid the crowds. Most research says the tulips should still be blooming the week after the peak but of course there is always the risk of that not being the case. So for our visit, most of the tulips were already withering and we did not get to see much. However, our toddlers were still able to run around in the open field and I was able to capture some memorable shots with the windmill and whatever was left of the tulips. We spent two hours there and it was more than enough.

Overall one of the major places to visit when you are in Holland, MI. However, I was not very intrigued by this. Entry tickets are damn cheap and I was surprised by that. It is a nice picturous location and has great photo opportunities. A big area with tons of greenery all over. It was a joy to walk here. Nice holland style building and small museums. A cute botanical garden and a merry-go-round swing too. A great place for a family with kids. The only complaint we have is that there were no good food options. They should really have a restaurant inside with some hot food options.

This place is absolutely gorgeous and the flowers are amazing. The flowers are beautiful and you can tour the inside of the windmill. I recommend going early during tulip time, it can get busy as the day goes on

Tulip time is TRULY the best time at Windmill Island Gardens. This place is so incredible and I absolutely love how beautiful they have created this whole area of gardens. It truly feels like its own little town and at any point inside the gardens, you can look up and see the iconic windmill standing proud in the distance or not-so-distant distance. There are...dare I say...thousands if not MILLIONS (?!) of tulips throughout these gardens and everything feels alive with color whenever I'm here. Granted, I haven't been here in the "off season" times when it's not tulip time, but I'm sure it's equally fun and beautiful. I definitely recommend coming here for tulip time if you want the best experience ever! I also recommend you coming here before they say they're "open for business" each day. If you don't want to be surrounded by people while you appreciate the gardens, I'd get there around sunrise up to even right at open, and you'll be able to view the tulip fields uninterrupted and take incredible pictures while you're at it. I absolutely love it here. Thanks for being so dog-friendly as well, Windmill Island Gardens. I love nothing more than being able to appreciate the tulips with my dog and many other tulip spots in the Holland area during tulip time aren't necessarily dog-friendly the way these gardens are. So this is TRULY the best! :)

Very beautiful, lots of flowers, things to do and see. Easy paths to walk on. Some are all rocks but they do have paved ones. The windmill is cool as well, you can go all the way up and look out or go half way. The organ plays every so often. Definitely worth to wait and see. Dog friendly. Lots of stuff for kids to do as well! No wait to get in, fairly priced tickets and shop. Not overly crowded at all. Free wheelchairs to use

I am being a little generous with 3 stars for this rating, but I want to be circumspect because there were some good things about this place. I simply thought it was overpriced and definitely miserably overcrowded at Tulip Festival time. To start with the positives, the history of the Windmill that was brought from the Netherlands was quite interesting. When it's not overcrowded, I am sure climbing up to the windmill deck offers a great view. The green space was lovely and the tulips at festival time were beautiful. But I could get those things for free in other spots close by. The buildings replicating a Dutch Village were nice enough. I understand there's also craft and other special events that could be value-add at various times. The village display inside one of the buildings is worth a look. There is also a nice play area for the kids (again, similar things could be accessed for free elsewhere). Even taking all the agreeable positive features into account, my experience at this park will not be remembered fondly. For $12 per adult, there was not enough to justify the price. I'll be fair here and say that the crowds simply ruined it, and that might be the biggest reason for my negative memories. But stepping back and extrapolating to an experience involving a more reasonable number of people, I'd still have to say that I'd walk away feeling that I was overcharged. I'd definitely feel that way if the tulips were not in season. Having been to various attractions and events in different parts of the world, if I'm to be honest, this is in the bottom 10th percentile in terms of value. Much of the negativity in my review could be cleaned up if the organizers for the Tulip Festival could come up with a better way to manage the crowds. But, even if they did, I think a price adjustment for the admission is required to get a better ranking in my view.

A nice collection of flora and fauna that changes with the seasons. Having been to the gardens as a young child during the tulip festival I can just see the fields full and colorful, if only we had come during the season! Overall the park provides a nice walk with paths around both the perimeter and a smaller one inside of the perimeter. Learning about how the windmill came about was well worth the time and walking up, up, up the narrow staircase with the icing being the view from balcony. This garden was a reciprocal garden to one I'm a member of in Florida which was a nice bonus. Would definitely return during tulip time.

Family vacation 2021...bringing the California variant of COVID-19 to your city. We made our way to Windmill Island Gardens in June 2021....non tulip time. For a Californian, this place is like Solvang on sterioids. It was almost part garden, gift shops, part museum, a park for kids with a carousel, and a large working windmill from the Netherlands. This place was so affordable for me that I didn't have to look around for discounts. It was only $10 per person to get in. The employees were nice. They had lots of employees at the windmill describing the functions of the windmills at it different floors. Very educational. I liked it. I think I need to go back when it is tulip time.

This is probably the hardest review to do... $12 admission seemed ok when we pulled up. Once we got in there was a cute dutch lady waiting to greet up. Then we headed over the tiny draw bridge and made our way to the windmill, my lungs ached. There were places ti sit and take your time but how do you sit with that view? I am 2 yrs into a lung disease and am still learning how to not over do activities There were nice signs to read along the way that taught you about the monsterous windmill in front of you. Once inside a gentleman told you a little about the windmill. They brought it over in pieces from Holland (see what they did there) and put it back together where it stands now. The Michigan Holland people had to build it up and extra 2 floors so the wind could catch the blades! It was 44 steps up to the landing, totally do-able then another 22 to the top. Each floor had a person telling stories and info which was really cool. Once you're down, make sure to head to the little (well big in perspective) shoe and get some pictures! After all of that, head to the gift shop! THIS IS A TOURIST SPOT! Remember this when you see prices. BEWARE, it is not what you will expect! 99% of the items were prices nicely. We were able to get gifts for 5 people for under $30 however the postcards seemed very high at $1 each. Take cash in with you because you can buy a stamp (cash only!) and mail from a real Dutch mailbox just outside the shop! The shop itself takes credit cards but you must use cash for the stamp! They had a Carousel that was adorable but says children only and neither of us qualified. All said and done, we added an hour and half to our trip but it was worth it

Beautiful, spacious garden with walking paths and flowering plants. Unfortunately, there aren't too many flowers in bloom during our visit but the island garden is still wonderful. The entrance fee was $5 per person and dogs are allowed which was a plus. Since we're vacationing with our pup, it's important to find activities she could participate in as well and this garden is one of them! The downside is, you cannot take your pets inside the building so if you do have your pup with you, be ready to not go inside any buildings or have someone else wait for you and take turns going inside buildings. The windmill is beautiful and the recreation of the buildings will definitely transport you to a different place altogether. The store associates even dressed up in Dutch apparel! Due to COVID safety procedures, their snack bar was not open but there were pre-packaged food items available for purchase such as Dutch cookies, stroop waffles, and chocolates. I think this garden would be absolutely gorgeous in the spring! Our pup definitely enjoyed the wonderful garden and so did we!

So pretty! Didn't go during tulip time but it was still really nice. I did think there was going to be more shops though.

While staying a week in the Saugatuck/Douglas area we decided to drive to the neighboring town of Holland for something to do outside on a on-again/off-again rainy day. Admission was $10 which I have to say is a little much for what you get. Once inside we meandered the grounds which are dog friendly and we did bring our furry friend. The entrance houses some artisan shops, a manicured garden area and or organ playing music outside and a merry-go-round (for children only). The short walk to the windmill is less picturesque and more farm like. The grounds are much smaller than I had imagined. The lighthouse itself does not allow dogs but we toured it one at a time waiting outside with out pooch. The windmill has 3 levels with a self guided tour although they do have someone at the first and third level to answer questions. The overall experience was nice but not a must do IMO.

Beautiful gardens and a really informative tour on classic grain milling. When we were there today, the gardens have switched from tulips to a more seasonally appropriate vibe. The flower beds were themed from holidays around the world! It was so fun to see the variety and the different moods captured in the beds! The walking organ was also really interesting, as you can walk all the way around it as it performs. I've never seen the back of one of these, or how they work, so that was very cool. On this Labor Day holiday weekend, they had several people out to answer questions and they were all so nice and helpful. Wonderful experience. The worst reviews seem to stem from the crowds at Tulip Time - Labor Day was an amazing time to go if this is on your bucket list!

Covid times travel, so local rules and restrictions may vary based on time of visit. *** Non tulip time visit**** Windmill Island Gardens happened to be a side trip (~ 30 minutes) while visiting Grand Rapids. This actually reminded me of a scaled back Zaanse Schans (the windmill park in Amsterdam) . Highlights: * $10 per adult * The grounds were actually smaller than I would have thought. Depending upon the crowd, you could probably see the full grounds in 30 minutes, including walking around the cement trail and going up the Windmill. I could imagine how crammed it would be during tulip season. * Explore De Zwaan, an original working Dutch Windmill. There are 4 floors, 3 you can stop in to see. Each level narrows as you climb higher, but after a brief walk up (~4 flights with relatively wide steps) , you are rewarded with a view of the grounds. * Bathrooms are in a "house" at the front. No Euros required to use them! * An organ from Amsterdam that is played twice an hour, 20 past and 20 til the hour * Gift shop with goods and treats from Amsterdam * A carousel ; however, it's sadly just for kids which is understandable based on the size for the animals . * Various staff is dressed in olden times Dutch costumes Overall, it was an interesting side trip that provides a nice feeling of being in Europe for a brief moment. Plus you can get some nice pictures.

My family and I had an amazing time at the tulip festival. We came to the windmill gardens and we were there for about 30 minutes. When we were exiting we saw a girl with a bucket of flowers so we went back to ask if they were selling them. The man at the exit was VERY rude to my mother and blocked her by putting his arm out across her legs and said you can't come in here after we just walked passed him. He told us we were never in there. This is unfortunate that's are last lasting impression of our trip. Make sure you ask for a receipt so this doesn't happen to you.

100% a must see in Holland. The grounds are incredible, covered in dozens and dozens of varietals of plants and flowers. It's just amazing. The windmill is a fascinating glimpse into the ingenuity of the past and the view from the platform is worth the stairs. There is a wonderful play area for kinds and pets are welcome.

This was a lovely hour or so the walk the grounds of the gardens and see the windmill. Have never seen the inner workings of a windmill before in all my years. Very cool. The gardens were so wonderful. Not so meticulously maintained that they seemed unreal. All was very natural. Loved the Tulpi chairs! Inexpensive and worth the trip for locals and tourist alike.

This was a pretty cool place. It is definitely the highlight attraction in Holland, MI. When we first booked our trip, we had thought that the entire town would be decorated in a dutch fashion. However, that was not the case. Downtown was still super cute, but not quite what we were expecting. Windmill Island is how Holland gets its Dutch reputation. This is where you will see all the accents and decor. We actually spent longer here then we were anticipating as there was more to do than we thought. First, there was the Windmill. This 250 year old Windmill is still working and making flour. That is pretty cool. You are able to climb all the way up to the top and get a bird's eye view of the gardens. The Windmill is about 125 ft high. They have guides at the bottom and middle level explaining the history and flour making process. They also have horses. I don't think you are able to ride them, though. They are running in a pretty big fenced pasture. The walk through isn't huge, but not super small either. They have pretty flowers and cute houses. We didn't go during tulip season, but I hear you get the best views then. It was still pretty, even in the off season. They have a cute gift shop and a smaller windmill. They call it Windmill "Island" because there is a little moat dug around it, but they do have a bridge you can cross. Finally, there is a small diorama of a typical Dutch town with a Windmill in the center. It was very intricate and must have taken a ton of time to make. Overall, it is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area.

I was exploring Holland and the gardens were in several lists of "must see" things around town, so I figured I should probably see what it was all about. I was here in October, past their peak season, as it looked like they were prepping everything for winter. Unfortunately that mean that most of the gardens were barren, but good to see that they take such pride in making sure everything is cleaned up before the weather turns cold. On the plus side, there was nobody manning the admission booth in the day that I was there, so I got to have a look around for free. Aside from the interesting looking buildings (they were closed when I visited) the primary draw is the windmill itself- a great photo opportunity and plenty of benches around to relax for a little bit while soaking up the scenery.

A simulated Holland in Hollan, MI. Complete with tulip gardens and a windmill imported straight from the Netherlands. I do salute you. My cousin saw friends of hers post pics of this place and she immediately got FOMO. So, since we were all off at a period of time. We all decided to rent a giant suv and do a day trip. The tour of the windmill is pretty cool and very educational. I actually enjoyed it. No joke! The process on how they turn the giant wind mill towards the wind is actually pretty cool. Plus, i've just recently became a baking geek, so yea. I'm all about the bran, the wheat and the flour. Stone mills and all that geeky stuff. Not all of the tulips on the field has bloomed yet when we were there. However there was a patch of just opened flowers on the far end. Nice photographs were taken of course. It's a total tourist trap. You come here, you learn about the netherlands, the windmill and the tulips. Perfect for the spring time since it's more likely the only time people flock to this spot. It was cool, not a total lame job. I'd come back and take people visiting here again. Show them that there are plenty of things to see in Michigan.

Neat place and worth a stop if in the area. I stopped in to see the windmill, loved it. Pet friendly! There is a gift shop selling Dutch items and food. Stop in, tour the windmill and explore the grounds. It's a neat experience.

We were here a week before the festival, and I'd say the flowers here were maybe the furthest behind of any of the spots around Holland. Still, this was a very fun spot. History, the incredible windmill, lots of photo opportunities, affordable entry fee, it was really nice. Super fun place to spend an hour or two - and I can imagine even cooler when the fields are blooming around the windmill. We only had flowers near the front, but nothing at all was blooming in the fields just yet. This is a nice spot to visit, and can imagine it's truly incredible when timed right!

Windmill Island Garden is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy the day or weekend, in Holland, Michigan. Just a few dollars to pay to get in to the garden. We were there in the end of July. Flowers were fully blooming! They were gigantic and colorful flowers! The garden consists a full size of windmill, which is available to tour in normal time, but during the pandemic, it was closed. There is a real Organ from historic time! They play on it time to time, and visitors can listen to it. The garden has a full street view of beautiful village buildings, just like in the Netherlands. In the little houses you can find different gift shops with plenty of gift items, including wooden slippers, t-shirts, tulips, chocolates, cookies, delicious treats. Also a little museum inside one of the house. And also a botanical garden, too! Restrooms were very clean. It had sanitizer too, besides soaps Social distancing was enforced. Mask needed to be worn. I highly recommend this place for everyone. Great for families too.

On the east shore of Lake Michigan lies a little piece of The Netherlands, in Holland, Michigan. You might guess from the name of the town that citizens are proud of their Dutch heritage - well, if you were Dutch, wooden shoe be, too? (Just say it out loud and don't complain, okay?) Located on the north end of Lincoln Street is a park on Windmill Island. It wasn't an island until a couple of canals were built (with a nod to Dutch canals) to create an island where you will find (drum roll, please) a genuine Dutch windmill! Yes, De Zwaan Windmill was purchased in Holland and brought to Michigan to be restored and reconstructed on Windmill Island to become the centerpiece of the park. You'll cross a pedestrian drawbridge over the canal to get to the island, and in a short walk, you'll pass a historical marker that tells the story of the windmill. Another short walk up the pathway, you'll come to the featured windmill. (In a normal year, you'll be able to take a tour. Me? I had the misfortune of getting there in 2020 and was lucky to get into the park at all!) When you enter the park, you'll discover a delightful orchestrion that is demonstrated on a regular schedule. You have to hear it to believe it, and it's too bad I can't post a video of it in action. (There's a photo of it with my post.) According to a plaque attached to the side of the instrument, it is named De Vier Kolommen (The Four Columns) and was built in 1928 by a famous organ builder named Carl Frei. The instrument was played in the streets of Breda, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The organ was given to the City of Holland by the City of Amsterdam in gratitude for the role of the United States in liberating The Netherlands during World War II. It is mounted on a trailer so it can be used in parades and such. It is housed in it's own little garage, too. Near the ochestrion is a collection of flags, one from each state of The Netherlands. There's also a village for you to tour. I can only imagine what this place must be like during tulip season! Back to De Zwaan for a moment...on display is a piece of an original windmill blade. The windmill was used as an observation tower during WWII and there are several bullet holes in the blade segment. The holes are demonstrative of how much power is packed into the ammo used in a fighter plane! This park is a magical place, great for kids but don't tell them they might learn something!

I know it wasnt tulip season and in the middle of covid but this place is absolutely beautiful still. Not alot to do but nice for a walk or a jog (lots of runners). We will definitely make the trip back for tulip season now that we have found it. The rates were deeply discounted since there wasnt alot going on. I think we paid $5 to get in.

This was probably one of my favorite places that we visited in Holland. It shows off so much of Dutch culture and is a unique experience that you can't just find anywhere. We came during COVID, which did have some rules in place but it was still nice to see. I was a little surprised that we had to pay to get in, as it is mostly a big park that you can walk around, with a couple shops. They normally do tours inside the mill, which they were not offering during the pandemic and did provide a discount for that. Even though it is best to come during tulip season, It is still cool to check out on the off-season as well. The mill is gigantic, and there's even a tent where you can watch a video about it and it's pretty interesting. There are a few other things planted around, like a giant organ, mini museum-like rooms and a cool souvenir shop. I would say to make this a must-do on your Holland visit.

One of the highlights of our visit, but a little disappointing due to the pandemic some areas were close, but the park has a tent that you can watch a video of what you were missing. The entrance fee was minimal and everyone was asked to wear a mask specially if you're going on a building. The staff were wearing masks and gloves. It's really challenging trying to lead a normal life during this pandemic, but the parks are still open and I really appreciate that. This park is beautiful even if the tulips are long gone, the park was landscaped beautifully with flowers, I like the butterfly garden the most. It's a quick walk around the park, not a lot going on but enjoy the windmill, the gardens and the ponds with ducks.

A beautiful place to enjoy tulip season! The entry fee is extremely affordable, there are breathtaking flowers everywhere you look, and the additional attractions are fun to see! A great place for folks of all ages. My only concern is their parking situation. We arrived at the road entrance only to see a barrier that said "parking full" and a staff member yelling, "I only open this periodically throughout the day! Park somewhere else!" Odd, but ok. From a public parking garage about a block away, you still have a 15-20min walk with little shade to get to the garden entrance. We saw there were lots of parking spots open in the lot when we arrived. It seems that maybe with more organization there could be a better flow of traffic to the lot vs. fully closing it for an undetermined amount of time. (I know they run shuttles, and I'm sure those are a good option for folks who don't mind being tied to a schedule.)

Really cool spot. Flowers were beautiful, but don't expect to find tulips right now as they're no longer in season. Cute little place, worth check out

This was a great spot! It's $10 per adult (our son was $5) and it is a great way to experience an authentic Dutch garden. My husband and I studied abroad in the Netherlands, in a small Dutch village, when we were in college, so it was very cool to bring our 3 year old here and give him a taste. I loved the greenhouse with succulents, and we enjoyed walking along the beautiful trail with views of the windmill. We then went inside the windmill and climbed to the top - so cool to learn it is a real Dutch windmill that was built in Holland and deconstructed to bring to America and reassemble. Beautiful flowers and waterways, great for taking memorable photos, would definitely recommend and visit again.

The grounds are beautiful and the workers at the windmill were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Having said that, $6 for kids is a lot if you're charging $12 for adults. All kids need to be free or lower the adult price. In the end, this is a big time tourist trap.

Absolutely beautiful place. Came here to see the tulips, so breathtaking. There is a cool windmill that you can take a tour inside. Friendly hosts, cool store and there is a nice little playground and carousel. Definitely a must visit in Holland.

Windmill Gardens seemed like the go-to spot for many people recently during the Holland Tulip Festival. On paper, it has the makings for a great visit with a large Dutch windmill, rows of tulip, and a friendly atmosphere. While it does have all of that, for the $10 admission price, I was expecting a lot more from the gardens. Firstly, it was incredibly busy the day that we went of the festival. Parking wasn't the most difficult part but being able to get through the gardens in peace was definitely a challenge. When the tulips aren't in full bloom, the gardens remind you of the long wintery spring that we ended up having here in the Midwest. The windmill itself was pretty but required an additional cost of admission in order to actually enter. Aside from walking around and gazing at buds, there's not much else here at the gardens. Being rather small as well, you can get through the entire area in less than an hour and be satisfied. Hopefully the days that you come and explore, there will be more flowers and less people.