Spring Walks Through Holland’s Tulip Time

Walking through downtown Holland is beautiful in every season, but the days leading up to Tulip Time are among my favorites. The streets around 8th Street, Centennial Park, and Windows on the Waterfront come alive with vibrant blooms, transforming the town into a celebration of spring.

Even in winter, I enjoy strolling downtown thanks to our fabulous (and famous) heated sidewalks and streets. But tulip season is truly special. Tulips have always been one of my favorite flowers, and Holland offers so many different varieties to admire.

As an early riser, I especially enjoy morning walks along 8th Street while the city is still waking up. Only the coffee shops are open, and the peacefulness allows you to truly savor the tulips lining the street. There’s convenient parking near the post office, and I highly recommend stopping at 205 Coffee, a cozy, locally owned shop. A delicious coffee or sweet treat is the perfect companion for your stroll—you can complete the loop along 8th Street in under 20 minutes.

For an extra burst of blooms, I suggest a slight detour. Head north on College Avenue to Windows on the Waterfront, where over 100,000 tulips create a stunning display. Many rare varieties are planted there—my personal favorites are the peony tulips, with their lush, layered petals.

Thanks to the later sunsets this time of year, a post-dinner walk is just as delightful. Venture beyond 8th Street and take in even more flowers tucked among Holland’s historic homes and parks.

Another favorite tradition of mine is walking the Tulip Lanes, where more than 250,000 tulips are planted along 12 miles of city streets each year. What I love most is that you can enjoy these beautiful displays without an entry fee—tulips growing right in the heart of the community, free for everyone to experience. While the grand plantings in parks are breathtaking, it’s the everyday tulips lining the sidewalks that always give me the biggest smile.

The Tulip Time website offers a helpful map of the Tulip Lanes. My favorite area for walking is the historic center of Holland, where the blend of colorful flowers and stunning architecture invites you to slow down and take it all in.

One of my favorite routes starts by parking along 10th Street, where street parking is usually easy to find. From there, I walk west to Washington Avenue, head south to 9th Street, and then make my way to Kollen Park to enjoy the tulips along the waterfront. If time allows, a visit to the nearby Cappon House, a charming historic home, makes a wonderful addition to the walk.

From Kollen Park, I head north to 12th Street and stroll east toward Centennial Park, where the streets are lined with tulips and historic homes. It’s one of the most beautiful routes in town, especially in full bloom.

Centennial Park itself is a must-visit during Tulip Time, with about 48,000 tulips filling the park and surrounding areas. But beyond the flowers, Centennial Park also hides a quiet treasure: two Dawn Redwood trees—one of which is believed to be the tallest in Michigan. If you stand at the gazebo and look south, you'll see the shorter, broader redwood. A glance southeast reveals the taller tree. I just learned about them this past winter and can’t wait to see them leafed out this spring. Even some longtime Holland residents are surprised to learn about these magnificent trees!

You can read more about these rare Dawn Redwoods here.

Whether you're a local looking for a quiet moment amid the blooms or a visitor exploring Holland for the first time, Tulip Time offers something truly special. It’s a season that invites you to slow down, wander with intention, and soak in the simple beauty of spring. I hope this saunter through some of my favorite routes inspires you to lace up your shoes, grab a coffee, and let the tulips lead the way.