HOLLAND

Holland was founded by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte.  He and his followers envisioned it to be a "wilderness Zion".

Although many immigrant Dutch coming to Michigan were attracted to Muskegon, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids, Holland was the main center, because the leader of the Dutch, A.C. Van Raalte (below), lived there.

Source:  Pillar Christian Reform Church

His school, Hope College, which began giving theological instruction in 1866 in addition to the liberal arts course, provided leadership for all the Dutch Reformed churches in the state. Van Raalte could not really call his "Colony" a great success, but Holland was a small enterprising town and home to 2,400 when the great disaster (the fire of 1871) struck.

Today, Holland is a thriving tourist town.  It has developed its image of a Dutch village, replete with wooden shoe factories and windmills.  Even the street signs emphasize this image:

Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

Holland also promotes its magnificent lakeshore and sand dunes, as seen below.

Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.