Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Yes, Holland, Michigan was named after the Dutch province of North Holland.
In 1847, a group of Dutch Calvinist separatists led by Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte founded the settlement seeking religious freedom. They chose the Lake Michigan shoreline for its timber, water access, and arable land.
The colonists named their new home "Holland" in honor of their homeland. The city retains strong Dutch heritage: tulip festivals (Tulip Time), windmills (De Zwaan), architecture, and a significant Dutch-American population.