. When it was decommissioned, it was given to the Holland Lighthouse Preservation group who continues to maintain it. 
This is one of the sculptures found around Holland made and donated by a local scrap metal dealer. This stands next to the Macatawa Yacht Club where we docked for 4 days while we wait for good weather to cross to Racine, WI. and while we visit with Cotter and Joann Tharin and Clark and Shirley Weersing. They are our winter neighbors at Burnt Store Marina. It was great to see them and they certainly outdid themselves in showing us around their town ! Great hosts !
A must see in Holland is this windmill called DeZwan which is the only authentic Dutch windmill in the US. The Dutch name all their windmills. After much negotiation, the Dutch government agreed to release one of these (they were becoming fewer and fewer in the Netherlands) so it was dissassembled there, shipped to the US, and reassembled here on Windmill Island in Holland,MI. This was in about 1964. One of the stipulations was that this continue to be a working mill, so it still is used to grind the grain as it was intended. Guides were dressed in the costume of each peculiar province of Holland. At the present, there are 2 girls in training to become millers for this type of mill and some of their training has to be done in Holland to become a certified miller.
Shirley and I are standing in front of an Amsterdam street organ which was given to the city of Holland in gratitude for the assistance given them by the US during the World War. It plays like a player piano but with the drums, cymbals and organ sound.
The grounds at Windmill Island are beautifully landscaped with flowers everywhere. There is also a greenhouse, carousel, a miniature Dutch village. Unfortunately, we missed the Klompen dancing (wooden shoes).
The downtown area of Holland has been renovated in the Dutch style and again, flowers everywhere are replacing the beds which bloom with tulips in the spring. It is home to Hope College so there are many cultural events available, a great farmer's market, plus this nice harbor. It's not hard to see why the Tharins and Weersings stay here for retirement !
