Windmill Island Gardens - Visit to Dutch Heritage

The Windmill Island Gardens in downtown Holland, Michigan brings a glimpse into Dutch culture, the native heritage of most of this city's residents.  One of the highlights is the Dutch Street Organ, that came directly from the Netherlands.  The city of Amsterdam gave this historic organ to Holland, Michigan in acknowledgement of America's help in liberation of the country during the Second World War.  An organ concert plays every thirty minutes and entertains the crowd with music from wooden pipes, where air is blown from a large bellows.

Atop a hillside sits the DeZwaan Windmill, the key attraction of the Island.  This working windmill was built more than 240 years ago and is used to process wheat into flour.  It was brought to this location in 1946 and is the last windmill to leave Holland.  Tours of the interior of the windmill are offered every few minutes, with docents that explain the process for making flour (which is sold in the gift shop).  Before each tour, Dutch Dancers in wooden shoes perform outside the windmill. 
During tulip season (early May) the Island has acres of blooming tulips to add to the beauty of this unique spot.  Perhaps, we will be back...someday.