Veldheer Tulip Gardens | Holland

Veldheer Tulip Gardens – Detailed Overview

Location: 12755 Quincy Street, Holland, Michigan
Founded: 1950 by Vern Veldheer
Claim to Fame: Largest tulip garden in Holland, Michigan, and the only operating tulip production farm in the city
Seasonal Highlight: Major attraction during Tulip Time Festival (early May)

Origins and History

Veldheer Tulip Gardens began as a small hobby farm planted by Vern Veldheer, who initially grew 100 red tulips and 300 white tulips behind his house. Over the decades, it evolved into a sprawling commercial and public tulip farm, showcasing millions of bulbs and attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually. The gardens remain family-owned and operated, retaining a deeply rooted legacy in West Michigan’s Dutch-American community.

Floral Collections and Landscaping

1. Spring Displays (Late April to Mid-May):

Tulips: Over 5 million tulips in bloom across carefully designed beds and rows, planted in symmetrical patterns that reflect Dutch horticultural artistry.

Varieties: More than 850 tulip varieties, including rare types like:

Parrot tulips

Fringed tulips

Double-late (peony-style) tulips

Darwin hybrids and Triumph tulips

Other Spring Blooms:

50,000 daffodils

20,000 hyacinths

20,000 crocuses
These are arranged in succession to extend the flowering window.

2. Summer Gardens (June through September):

After tulip season, the site transforms into a perennial paradise, showcasing:

Daylilies

Hostas

Oriental lilies

Irises

Peonies

Ornamental grasses

These summer plantings are less formal but equally vivid, highlighting color and texture in broader naturalistic sweeps.

Garden Design and Visitor Experience

Layout: The tulip gardens are arranged in neat beds and broad fields, forming long color waves and geometric grids. Canals, miniature bridges, and faux windmills punctuate the landscape, echoing traditional Dutch countryside motifs.

Walking Paths: Crushed gravel and compacted dirt paths allow self-guided walking tours throughout the fields. Most areas are stroller- and wheelchair-accessible.

Photo Spots: Popular backdrops include a Dutch-style drawbridge, a working windmill, and rows of uniform tulip beds.

DeKlomp Wooden Shoe & Delftware Factory (On-Site Facility)

Wooden Shoe Factory:

Only authentic Dutch wooden shoe factory in North America using imported machinery from the Netherlands.

Artisans demonstrate traditional clog-making processes, from carving and sanding to custom decoration.

Wooden shoes (klompen) are available in both traditional forms and modern styles with painted motifs or engravings.

Delftware Studio:

This studio produces hand-molded and hand-painted Delft Blue pottery, modeled after the famous ceramics of the Netherlands.

Each piece is crafted on-site, from clay shaping to glazing and firing.

Visitors can watch artisans paint tiles, plates, vases, and figurines with the iconic cobalt blue floral and scenic motifs.

Every item takes up to 10 days to complete due to drying, detailing, and kiln processes.

American Bison Herd

Unexpected Attraction: A small bison paddock behind the gardens houses a herd of 19 American buffalo, visible from viewing platforms.

Feature Animals: The herd includes Wange and Nepa, DNA-confirmed identical twins—an extremely rare phenomenon in bison.

Educational Value: Informative signage provides facts on bison history, biology, and conservation.

Bulb and Garden Center

Open year-round, selling:

Tulip bulbs (shipped in fall)

Perennials, including hybrid daylilies and peonies

Windmill garden décor and fountains

Gardening tools and Dutch-themed gifts

Bulbs are sourced globally, particularly from the Netherlands, and are offered for fall planting with detailed growing instructions.

Visitor Logistics

Operating Hours:

Spring Tulip Season: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily

Off-Season: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Admission:

Adults: $15

Children (ages 3–13): $8

Children under 3: Free

Tickets are purchased at the entrance; group rates available

Accessibility:

Paths are mostly flat and accessible

Benches provided throughout the grounds

Free on-site parking

Amenities:

Portable restrooms during peak season

Small snack area with beverages and Dutch candies

No indoor café or restaurant

Rules:

No pets allowed (except service animals)

No flower picking

Professional photography permitted with restrictions

Tulip Time Festival Role

Veldheer Gardens is a centerpiece of Holland’s Tulip Time Festival, typically held in early May. While other venues (like Windmill Island and Centennial Park) offer tulip displays, Veldheer’s is the most expansive and agriculturally authentic. Visitors often plan their trips around peak bloom, and the staff provides bloom forecasts and updates each year to help plan accordingly.

Summary

Veldheer Tulip Gardens offers an immersive and sensory-rich exploration of Dutch horticultural heritage, blending tradition with large-scale flower farming. Its rows of brilliantly colored tulips, authentic artisan workshops, and the surprise inclusion of an American bison herd make it one of the most unique botanical destinations in the Midwest. Whether visiting during spring bloom or summer perennial season, guests experience a blend of beauty, culture, and craftsmanship that reflects both the Dutch legacy and the vibrancy of Holland, Michigan.