{{short description|Island in Michigan, United States of America}} {{distinguish|Windmill Islands}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox islands |name = Windmill Island Gardens |image_name = Windmill Island Holland Michigan.jpg |image_size= 250px |image_caption = Aerial view of Windmill Island Gardens |map = Michigan |map_caption = Windmill Island Gardens (Michigan) |native_name = |native_name_link = |location = Lake Macatawa |coordinates={{coord|42|47|58|N|86|05|45|W|type:isle_region:US-MI|display=inline,title}} |archipelago = |total_islands = |major_islands = |area_acre = 36 |coastline_mi = |highest_mount = |elevation_ft = |country = United States |country_admin_divisions_title = State |country_admin_divisions = Michigan |country1_admin_divisions_title = County |country1_admin_divisions =Ottawa County |country2_admin_divisions_title = City |country2_admin_divisions =Holland |population = Uninhabited |population_as_of = |density_sqmi = |ethnic_groups = }}
'''Windmill Island Gardens''' is a municipal park located in the city of Holland, Michigan. It is home to the 251-year-old windmill De Zwaan, the only authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States.
==History== [[Image:windmillisland1.jpg|thumb|left|Windmill Island during Tulip Time 2005.]]
In 1964, the City of Holland purchased the windmill De Zwaan from a retired miller in the town of Vinkel in the province of North Brabant, the Netherlands. The windmill was shipped from the Netherlands to the port of Muskegon, Michigan on the ship ''Prins Willem van Oranje''. It was brought by truck from Muskegon to its present location on Windmill Island. Reconstruction of the mill began in 1964 and the park opened in April 1965. The island, formerly farmed by Henry F. Koop, was chosen because of the favorable wind conditions there. Although originally a peninsula, a manmade canal turned the land into an artificial island. Before the arrival of De Zwaan, it was known as Hyma Island.
On April 10, 1965, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands became the first visitor to the park and presided over the grand opening. His ticket and the ten guilder bill he used to purchase it are still on display in the park today.
==Windmill Island Gardens today== <gallery> DeZwaanWindmill.JPG|De Zwaan windmill </gallery> The park includes approximately {{convert|36|acre|ha}} of land along the Macatawa River and the swamp leading into Lake Macatawa.
Each year Windmill Island Gardens hosts approximately 55,000 tourists. The park is open daily from late April until early October, with the most visitors in early May during the Tulip Time Festival. Over 100,000 tulips are planted on the island each year in beautiful gardens filled with flowers summer through autumn. In addition to the windmill, the park includes replicas of several historic buildings in the Netherlands. In the summer months, visitors may also see the klompen dance, traditionally performed by local high school students during the annual Tulip Time Festival.
After Tulip Time season, tourists continue to enjoy the Island's attractions, and the park frequently hosts weddings and events. The Island's celebration pavilion can seat up to 300 people. Wedding ceremonies are typically held outside the park or in the Island's gardens, with receptions and banquets taking place in the pavilion.
The Mimi Cave<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/mimi-cave-on-housewives-holland-and-the-hyperreal |title=Director Mimi Cave on Housewives, "Holland," and the Hyperreal |website=interviewmagazine.com |date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-04-01}}</ref> thriller film ''Holland'' starring Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal, and Matthew Macfadyen, which was released on March 27, 2025, was filmed in Holland, Michigan, the same town in which the film takes place, at Windmill Island Gardens, specifically scenes including the windmill as well as being filmed in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee during the spring of 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eu.hollandsentinel.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/02/21/holland-michigan-filmmakers-scale-back-local-scenes-wont-shoot-downtown/69924843007|title='Holland, Michigan' filmmakers scale back local scenes, won't shoot downtown|newspaper=The Holland Sentinel|first=Evan|last=Sasiela|date=February 28, 2023|access-date=February 28, 2023|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228141220/https://eu.hollandsentinel.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/02/21/holland-michigan-filmmakers-scale-back-local-scenes-wont-shoot-downtown/69924843007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/ottawa/nicole-kidman-lead-film-holland-michigan-is-now-looking-for-west-michigan-extras|title=Nicole Kidman-led film 'Holland, Michigan' now looking for West Michigan extras|publisher=Fox 17|first=Michael|last=Martin|date=17 January 2023|access-date=21 April 2023|archive-date=February 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224245/https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/ottawa/nicole-kidman-lead-film-holland-michigan-is-now-looking-for-west-michigan-extras?_amp=true|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Liam|url=https://www.theleafchronicle.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2023/04/20/clarksville-transformed-into-movie-set/11699658002/|title=Downtown Clarksville Transformed Into Movie Set|newspaper=The Leaf-Chronicle|date=April 19, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2025}}</ref>
The film ''The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure'' was also shot in part on the island and features the De Zwaan windmill prominently.<ref> https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/entertainment/local/2012/08/24/children-s-film-oogieloves-filmed/45292380007/ </ref>
==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.windmillisland.org Windmill Island Gardens]
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Category:Holland, Michigan Category:Uninhabited islands of Michigan Category:Protected areas of Ottawa County, Michigan Category:Gardens in Michigan Category:Parks in Michigan Category:Islands of Ottawa County, Michigan