Local or not, the annual Tulip Time Festival here in Holland, Michigan is an event you’re not going to want to miss. This nine-day festival celebrates everything Dutch, and visitors experience vibrant parades, colorful blooming tulips, and unforgettable culinary experiences.
To add even more excitement into the mix, Tulip Time has been voted one of the Top 10 Best Small Town Festivals. Read along with some of these fun facts about our small town and it’s big party:
Did you know: Holland boasts over 5 million tulips during our festival. Tulips are located in city parks, public attractions and parks, and along our streets! This year, you can even Ask Alexa to track the tulip bloom for you, to keep up with every bulb this year.
The average time spent at Tulip Time for all visitors is 2.67 days. That time could be spent watching the parades, checking out the tulips on Windmill Island, or shopping and eating at Downtown Holland’s very best shops and restaurants.
There are 3 main parades that take place on 8th street. Volksparade comes first, otherwise known as the “People’s Parade.” Kinderparade is on May 9th, and features local school children dressed in their Dutch Best. Lastly, the Muzikparade, performed by marching bands and Holland’s best musicians (did you know: you can stream the parade from wherever you are! Click here to check out your options).
The average rating for visitors of Tulip Time is 9.10 – That means guests are very likely to recommend visiting Tulip Time to others! We are firm believers that it is impossible to have a bad time at the Festival, and this report from Hope College proves it!
At the end of it all: you can take home some bulbs for yourself! Take a piece of Dutch Heritage home with you, buy your own at Nelis’ Dutch Village, Veldheer Tulip Garden, and Windmill Island Gardens.
The Tulip Time festival is the pride and joy of our town, and we want you to experience all of it! Check out the full schedule here so you don’t miss a thing.
If Tulip Time is on your schedule this year, stop by and say hi! We’re located right downtown on 8th street, and we’d love to chat about all the things we love about Holland with you!
Enjoying your morning coffee with an exclusive view of Lake Michigan, days spent on your private beachfront, and evenings admiring a painted nighttime sky…this waterfront home was made for a relaxed coastal lifestyle. Glimpse into this remarkable lakeshore paradise.
A private, wood-lined drive leads to your Lake Michigan residence that comes complete with a charming interior. Sit by the wood-burning fireplace and take in a captivating view of the water below as sunlight beams in from the large windows. Maple flooring extends from the living room to the kitchen.
Ready for your culinary creations, the kitchen is designed with large island, plenty of storage, and boasts Wolf double ovens and range. Store the makings of a delicious meal in the SubZero Pro refrigerator that compliments the Cherry cabinetry.
Invite friends and family over for game night, choose your favorite film to watch in the theater area, or grab a bottle of wine from the cellar to sip outdoors on the lakeside deck.
Incomparable Details
A drive and walk snowmelt system keeps paths clear year-round, making maintenance a breeze. Find your way to the separate carriage house that includes beach bath, ideal for water toy storage, a private office, or overflow space. The heated garage comes complete with Epoxy flooring and dog wash.
Toast to Your Lakeshore Home
Your lakeshore paradise is situated on Holland’s treasured Gold Coast. An easy, low bluff is all that separates you from your exclusive waterfront beach, ready for long days on spent on the water. Whether relaxing indoors or out, this home is certain to highlight the harmonious lifestyle Lake Michigan boasts.
Ready to make this lakeshore paradise your permanent address? Contact Josi Van Horn today!
In our 5 Things series, we take a moment with some of the members of our office to learn more about their lifestyle and passion for the business. This month, we sit down with Global Real Estate Advisor, Josi Van Horn.
Favorite thing about your office space:
“I love our location. Being in the heart of Downtown Holland, we can walk to local places for lunch and establish relationships with community members so easily. All of the windows are probably the best part. They let natural sunlight into our space, and during Tulip Time, we have the best seats in the house for the parades.”
Favorite place in Downtown Holland:
“This is really difficult picking just one! But I have to say my apartment. It’s gotten to be something that’s an extension of me. I’ve been able to turn it into a place that when I walk in the door at the end of the day, it feels like home.”
The source of your passion for real estate:
“My favorite thing about selling real estate is all of the people I get to meet. Assisting them in the buying and selling process, we become quite close and I begin to think of my clients as more of friends, and less of partners in business. While walking through their homes, I get to know their family, their history, and I learn about the memories they hope to make at their new home. I love continuing that relationship past the sales process and catching up with them in the weeks afterward to see how they have been enjoying their new lifestyle.”
Favorite thing to do in the summer:
“Being on the water, be that boating or just sitting on the beach. As a local to Holland, I enjoy knowing little exclusive beach spots not everyone may know of… grabbing an easy snack and having my own private picnic watching the sunset is my ideal summer night.”
Why Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty?
“Over the last 8+ years as I’ve built and developed my career, I have had many offers from many different real estate companies all across the country, but I choose Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty because of the culture. The sense of belonging and family, I just don’t think I could get that anywhere else. The relationships and rapport I build with others in the office and community are what keep me here.”
If you have never made your way to Holland, Michigan for their annual Tulip Time festival, this should be your year. Among the nine-day celebration of the city’s rich Dutch heritage comes blooming bulbs, eclectic parades, timeless events, and we can pretty much guarantee more klompen than you ever thought you’d see.
Need more reassurance that you need to pay Tulip Time a visit this year? Here are our Top 5 reasons to experience Holland’s Tulip Time festival.
1. The Tulips
If for nothing else, at least experience the blooms! The Holland, Michigan area boasts over 5 million tulips each spring. From city parks to downtown on 8th Street, and pretty much every street corner in between, these gorgeous flowers pepper the city. Take in their beauty and the bright colors woven throughout the already stunning Holland landscape.
2. The Parades
You haven’t seen a community parade until you’ve seen a Tulip Time parade! The Volksparade is donned the “People’s Parade” with marching bands, specialty floats, and “street scrubbers”. The Kinderparade features local school children dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. Finally, the Muziekparade has over 4,000 participants with the longest festival parade route, boasting lively music and entertainment all along the route.
3. The Art
Whether attending a great concert, like The Beach Boys, or a hilarious River City Improv show, or just taking in the stunning pieces at the Art in Bloom exhibit, there is plenty of art and culture during Tulip Time. Some events may have a small fee for attending, but it’s always worth your while.
4. The Family Fun
Calling all thrill-seekers: you won’t want to miss out on the Tulip Time carnival! The ferris wheel towers over the Holland Civic Center’s North lot, while attractions aimed at younger kids are set up in the South lot. It’s guaranteed fun for even the most timid ride warrior.
5. The Food!
Our stomachs are already growling thinking about all of the food available during Tulip Time! Alongside some of Holland’s delicious year-round restaurants are vendors populating the city. From elephant ears to hot dogs to cotton candy and cinnamon rolls, this is a food-lover’s dream. Be sure to bring cash and take a bite out of some delicious Tulip TIme treats.
On your way to Tulip Time? Check out the festival’s full schedule so you don’t miss any of the fun.
In town for Tulip Time? Stop by our office, located right downtown Holland on 8th Street. We’d love to say hello while you’re here!
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand reported growth across its global network. At year-end, the network totaled nearly 950 offices and approximately 22,000 sales associates worldwide.
In the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved over $96 billion USD in sales volume in 2017 and added six independently owned and operated residential real estate firms to its network and 58 new offices. This past year witnessed continued significant growth by the brand’s existing affiliate companies through talent attraction as well as mergers and acquisitions, most notably increasing the brand’s market presence in the San Francisco Bay Area; Castle Rock, Colorado; and in Southern Florida and Key West. The brand also entered several key new markets last year, namely: Roseville, California; Avalon and Stone Harbor, New Jersey; the Central and Western Adirondacks regions of New York; Greater Greenville, South Carolina; and southeast Wisconsin.
Outside the United States, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand achieved over $12 billion USD in sales volume in 2017 while continuing to expand into key markets. In Europe, the brand grew its presence in Spain into the coastal cities of Valencia and San Sebastián, and in Belgium to Antwerp and Waterloo, as well as expanding to the Greek island of Rhodes. The brand also sold the rights to the Asian countries of Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to establish a future presence, and grew within India to include the key markets of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Goa and Kolkata
Reaching the Consumer
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand website, sothebysrealty.com, saw another record year with nearly 27 million visits, a 25% increase year-over-year, with 60% of visitors coming from outside the United States and 17.5% of traffic being from new users.
An exclusive alliance with the Nikkei, the most influential news publication in Japan, was launched in 2017. The alliance enables the brand to generate Japanese buyer interest through the Nikkei’s digital platform which reaches over 29 million monthly readers. The Sotheby’s International Realty brand is the first real estate brand to present property listings outside of Japan to readers of the Nikkei, giving Japanese consumers access to residential real estate offerings in nearly 70 countries and territories.
“In 2017, the brand launched a dedicated effort to establish meaningful connections with the emerging affluent consumer,” said Kevin Thompson, chief marketing officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “Data from sothebysrealty.com indicates that we are already well-positioned among this demographic, showing that nearly half of the traffic coming to the site was from the 25-to-44-year-old age group. As personalization has begun its reign over the luxury mindset, the consumer journey has also experienced a shift; it is our mission, as a preeminent luxury residential real estate brand, to continue to identify and execute new and authentic ways to connect with discerning clients.”
Additional Achievements
In 2017, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand added to its senior leadership team. Thompson was appointed as the brand’s Chief Marketing Officer to oversee the marketing, advertising, and public relations initiatives worldwide. With an extensive background working with globally recognized luxury brands, Thompson set forth early in the year to create exceptional consumer experiences through the strategic use of marketing and branding. Later in the year, Julie Leonhardt-LaTorre, a proven global real estate and management leader, was appointed Chief Operating Officer to spearhead strategic growth plans for the brand.
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s affiliated companies and sales associates raised more than $500,000 USD for New Story, the brand’s charitable partner and a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, by the end of 2017. The funds raised will go directly to the construction of new homes in Mexico. The highlight of the partnership came at the brand’s Global Networking Event, where affiliates of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand pledged funds for over 150 homes in just 32 hours.
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand was the No. 1 real estate brand represented in two of the six categories that comprise the 2017 REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal “The Thousand” for the second year in a row. The brand claimed 46 of the top 250 sales associates in the REAL Trends Individual Sales Volume category, more than any other real estate brand, and had the highest combined individual sales volume from sales associates in the same category. In addition, the Sotheby’s International Realty brand had the most individuals represented in the Individual Average Sales Price category.
Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, each brokerage firm and its clients benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs.
On Saturday, February 3rd, Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty had the pleasure of sponsoring Downtown Holland’s first ever charity shopping event, The Big Give. Over $16,500 was raised for the 15 non-profit organizations that were selected to participate in the event, an impressive number for the very first year!
With a total of 40 participating Downtown Holland stores and restaurants, 15% of all sales was donated to charity. During The Big Give, customers were invited to select which charity they wished a percentage of their purchase be donated to.
In our office, located in Downtown Holland on Eighth Street, we handed out freshly roasted almonds to passing shoppers. Not only was the warm treat well received, we also enjoyed meeting members of the Holland community. Everyone was in good spirits and couldn’t stop complimenting the event’s success!
Thank you to the Downtown Holland office for putting on The Big Give and allowing us to participate. The event was a true testament to the gracious nature of our beloved Holland community!
The 15 non-profit organizations that were selected by the Principal Shopping District Board of Directors to benefit from The Big Give included:
70×7 Life Recovery
Benjamin’s Hope
Center for Women in Transition
Community Action House
Grant Me Hope
Hand2Hand
Harbor Humane
Holland Free Health Clinic
Holland Rescue Mission
Hope Pkgs
Kids’ Food Basket
Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
My House Ministry
Ottagan Addictions Recovery
Park Theatre
Downtown Holland Businesses That Participated in The Big Give:
Apothecary Gift Shop Big E’s Sports Grill
Blu Veranda
Borrs Shoes
Canterbury Cottage
Cherry Republic
Cotton Bay Boutique
Frances Jaye
Fris Downtown
Fustini’s of Holland
GarenHuis Yarn Studio, LLC
Glik’s Boutique
Glik’s Men’s Shop
GLOBE Design & Vision
Harbor Wear
Home and Company
Hops at 84 East
jb and me
Karla’s Place
Kilwins Chocolates
Lemonjello’s Coffee
Michigan Pantry
Moynihan Gallery
New Holland Brewing Company
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Peachwave Frozen Yogurt and Gelato
Reader’s World
Salon Cheveux
Sandcastle
Seedlings
Spring Sweet
Studio K Clothing Co. Teerman’s
The Bridge
The City Delicatessen
The Seasoned Home
Threads on 8th
TIKAL
Tip Toes
Velo City Cycles
A distinctive masterpiece on the shores of Lake Macatawa constructed decades ahead of its time, this custom built Mike Schaap Builders home is a timeless work of art. Boasting only the most lavish details from the inside out, you will be swept away by its captivating beauty and remarkable features, including theater room, deluxe game room, private study, hidden anteroom, and deep water dock with 80′ of Lake Macatawa frontage.
Get a glimpse into this treasure on the water. Interested in reveling in the beauty in person? Contact Josi and Chad today.
For the collector, art is a top of mind consideration when purchasing a home, whether it’s grand wall space, custom built-ins, or a dedicated gallery space to showcase select pieces. Some connoisseurs take their passion one step further, incorporating art into their home’s design through custom works of art crafted to perfectly suit a property. From stunning entryways and dining rooms to gorgeous outdoor entertaining spaces, explore a collection of luxury real estate offerings around the United States in which art truly meets home.
$9,400,000 USD | Bellevue, Washington | Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty
More than a residence, 4648 Yarrow Point is a gallery of life experiences, carefully curated to reflect the owner’s worldwide travels in a profound experience that tempts the senses. A signature collection of hand selected wall finishes and art pieces capture the feel of each individual room as a custom five-paneled art piece anchors the heart of the home.
$4,250,000 USD | St. Charles, Illinois | Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty
Woodgate Estate refines the art of fine living, as an inspirational design guides one through a personal process of discovery in a journey through natural elements. Open the door to a custom water feature flanked by greenery that complements the home’s muted tones as grandeur meets a sense of tranquility. Once described as a “micro-climate for the soul,” this property is truly a piece of art in itself.
$9,500,000 USD | Cherry Hills Village, Colorado | LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
The ultimate modern estate in Cherry Hills Village, art meets nature in this spectacular residence, from the seamless, organic flow to breathtaking modern design that focuses on space, proportion and light. A water feature brings the outdoors in with an extension into the entryway, ample wall space is perfectly primed for a grand collection, and a flower wall sets the tone of the outdoor entertaining space.
$5,995,000 USD | Washington, DC | TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
This impressive residence offers two spacious levels of living with abundant natural light to complement elegant interior design elements by renowned architect Barry Nixon. A private elevator opens to a flowing first floor plan as one moves from the entry gallery into the living room. Architecture becomes art as the custom backlit onyx wall offers a warm ambiance.
$5,900,000 USD | Salt Lake City, Utah | Summit Sotheby’s International Realty
Constructed in 1926 and restored for modern living, this home is perfectly situated in a park-like setting along Red Butte Creek. The European architecture features leaded and stained-glass windows and a two-story library with quarter-sawn oak built-ins. Revel in a formal living room complete with hand-painted ceilings that hearken to days past yet live for today.
On this day one year ago, we affiliated with the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand. Since developing into Beacon Sotheby’s International Realty, your luxury real estate specialists servicing the Lake Michigan and West Michigan markets, we have had a whirlwind year.
From the expansion of our Downtown Holland office to adding new members to our team of experienced agents and participating in global events with Sotheby’s International Realty®, we recognize the remarkable difference in representing a distinctive brand, magnifying our exposure.
In the next year, we are eager to continue to be the leaders in the West Michigan and Lake Michigan real estate markets. In our belief, everyone deserves the extraordinary, because luxury is not about price point; it’s an experience. And when it comes to real estate, experience matters.
Thank you for partnering with us this past year. To many more!
Open the doorway to sophistication in this custom built Mike Schaap Builders home. Located on Lake Macatawa, the beauty of the lakeshore rivals unique design and savvy details throughout.
Intriguing elements are featured in the home, including remarkable fireplace with captivating views of the lake, perfect to cozy up to and watch the boats roll by.
In the kitchen, a butler pantry and Wolf and Sub Zero appliances compliment the ultimate culinary experience.
All will marvel at your private waterfront from the Ipe deck overlooking the pool, ready for an afternoon dip.
The main floor master suite is an exclusive getaway, boasting a spa-like experience with serene master bath and generously sized walk-through closet with direct access to the laundry room. All other bedrooms are en suite, ideal for overnight guests.
Store your favorite wine in the downstairs cellar, showing off your collection. Prep a summer meal at the lower level wet bar and enjoy direct access to the patio, ready for a grill out as you admire your exclusive waterfront oasis.
1. The Tulips
1967 South Shore Drive, Holland, MI | $4,650,000
A distinctive masterpiece on the shores of Lake Macatawa constructed decades ahead of its time, this custom built Mike Schaap Builders home is a timeless work of art. Boasting only the most lavish details from the inside out, you will be swept away by its captivating beauty and remarkable features, including theater room, deluxe game room, private study, hidden anteroom, and deep water dock with 80′ of Lake Macatawa frontage.
Get a glimpse into this treasure on the water. Interested in reveling in the beauty in person? Contact Josi and Chad today.