Each year, thousands of visitors come to downtown Holland, Michigan, and the surrounding areas to view over 2 million tulips during the Tulip Time Festival.
The annual festival, which started in 1929, celebrates tulips, Dutch heritage, and the city of Holland.
You can experience all things Dutch without needing a passport.
This article contains affiliate links.
When is the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan?
The Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan, is May 1-10, 2026
Check Out the Tulip Time Website Before Your Visit
A big part of having a great experience is planning your visit to the Tulip Time Festival in advance.
You’ll want to plan your visit around the events you want to experience and also consider the weather.
If it’s a gorgeous day, be prepared for large crowds and make additional allowances for finding parking. The first weekend is typically the busiest.
The tuliptime.com website has a rundown of daily events in the Shows & Events tab.
Some ticketed events can sell out, so you’ll want to purchase tickets in advance.
For example, the VIP tour is a great option for visitors seeking an exclusive guided experience with a costumed tour guide, admission tickets, and lunch.
There are also plenty of free events to enjoy.
Visitors look forward to the street scrubbing before the parade with volunteers in authentic costumes and the Klompen dancing in the streets.
The parade route is on 8th Street between Columbia & Kollen Park.
Tulip Duration
A variety of tulips for the festival are planted with early, middle, and late, so that there isn’t a 100% bloom.
Parking for the Tulip Time Festival
Depending on what you want to see and do, you may need to park more than once.
Holland, Michigan, has free public parking lots, street parking, and privately managed paid parking lots.
Watch Dutch Dancing
Speaking of Dutch dancing…There are several options for watching Dutch dancing during the Tulip Time Festival.
If you miss the Dutch dancing during the parades, there are several time slots where you can participate in Dutch dancing lessons at Centennial Park during the Tulip Time festival.
The instructors will walk you through the dance choreography step by step as a large group.
You can also watch a Dutch dancing demonstration at Nelis’ Dutch Village.
Nelis’ Dutch Village
12350 James St., Holland, MI
Speaking of Nelis’ Dutch Village, this Dutch-themed attraction offers a lot for families of all ages from April through September.
If you visit during Tulip Time, you can see 30,000 tulips from 100 varieties.
Admission to Nelis’ Dutch Village includes all the presentations, demonstrations, petting farm, and unlimited rides.
We found the shoe-making demonstration to be really interesting.
Their gift shop has wooden shoes available for purchase, too.
Kids will love the petting zoo, rides, and the slide from a giant wooden shoe.
It’s recommended to allow 3-4 hours to visit all the attractions and allow time to shop and eat.
Windmill Island Gardens
1 Lincoln Ave, Holland, MI
View 150,000 tulips in bloom for several weeks in late April and early May.
You can learn more about the area’s Dutch history and culture at the 36-acre park
Windmill Island Gardens is also home to the De Zwaan Windmill, which is the oldest authentic working Dutch windmill in the US.
The windmill was originally built in 1761 in the Netherlands and brought to Holland, MI, in 1964.
I recommended going inside the windmill and climbing the stairs to the observation area.
You’ll get another vantage point of the tulip fields and see angles of the windmill up close.
Windmill Island Gardens is a very popular spot for photos.
Some visitors are there to photograph the tulips up close, and others are there primarily for the gorgeous photo ops with tulips in the background.
You’ll want to be mindful of where you are standing so that you don’t walk in front of someone else getting their picture taken.
I speak from experience. We had several people walk right in front of the spot where we were waiting to take pictures. So patience and kindness are key.
Windmill Island Gardens is very busy during the Tulip Time Festival, and admission tickets are only sold on-site during that time.
If you can’t make it during the Tulip Time festival dates, there are usually blooms right before and after the festival.
Parking is available onsite, but the lots can fill up quickly. On the weekends, a free shuttle is available from the top of the causeway to the park entrance.
Additional Dutch Experiences Around Holland, Michigan
- Veldheer Tulip Gardens – 12755 Quincy Street, Holland, MI. Tulip farm with acres of tulips in early May.
- De Klomp Delft Factory – 12755 Quincy St, Holland, MI. Hand-painted pieces, wooden shoes for all sizes, chocolate, and more.
- The Cappon and Settlers Houses – learn more about Holland’s earliest settlers.
- Holland Museum – 31 W. 10th Street, Holland, MI. Learn more about Holland and its settlement of Dutch immigrants.
Explore Shops and Restaurants in Downtown Holland, Michigan
There are so many great restaurants and shops in downtown Holland.
You can find plenty of Dutch-themed souvenirs, along with great boutiques and speciality stores.
Make sure that you stop at the Holland, Michigan, Visitors Bureau for a fun photo opp with giant wooden shoes.
Wooden tulips and cheese are also popular souvenirs.
One of our favorite stops is Bowerman’s on 8th. We always get their donuts.
I highly recommend their lemon blueberry, but I don’t think you can go wrong with any of their pastries.
Most recently, we tried their specialty burgers, which were delicious!
Additional Dining Recommendations
More Coffee shops: Downtown: Foxtail, Lemonjello’s Coffee, and the 205 Coffee Bar.
Away from downtown – Kin Coffee and Craft House
Restaurants: New Holland Brewing Company Restaurant and Pub, The Curragh Irish Pub, and Tacos Borre.
Ice Cream stops: Captain Sundae, Kilwins Ice Cream
Check out the Holland.org website for additional recommendations.
Download the Mobile Passport
You’ll find themed additional adventures around Holland on the Mobile Passport: Holland Public Art, Koffie Klomp, and the Handcrafted Passport featuring Holland’s handcrafted beverage scene.
View the Famous Lighthouse at Holland State Park
2398 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland, MI
While you’re in the area, I also recommend visiting Holland State Park.
Holland Harbour Lighthouse, aka “Big Red,” is the most photographed lighthouse in Michigan, and you can enjoy the best views of the lighthouse at Holland State Park.
The scenic views of Lake Michigan from the beach are pretty great, too.
Save on Your Hotel in Holland, Michigan
- Courtyard by Marriott Holland Downtown – 121 E 8th St, Holland, MI
- DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Holland – 650 E 24th St, Holland, MI
- Hampton Inn Holland – 12427 Felch St, Holland, MI
- Tulyp, Tapestry Collection by Hilton – 61 E 7th St, Holland, MI
- Haworth Hotel & Conference Center – 225 College Ave, Holland, MI
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson – 12260 James St, Holland, MI
- Tru By Hilton Holland, MI – 12400 Riley St, Holland, MI
