Nelis' Dutch Village
Our theme park is a step back into the Netherlands of over 100 years ago, complete with authentic Dutch architecture, flowering gardens, canals and windmills. The history and culture of the Dutch come to life as our associates, dressed in native costumes including wooden shoes, demonstrate village life.
Plan your spring time visit when the tulips will be bursting with color. Songs from our towering 25-bell carillon greet arriving visitors. While strolling through the park, visitors can enjoy the music of our Amsterdam street organs and watch the klompen (wooden shoe) dancers kick up their heels with our Dutch folk dance. Afterward, everyone can join the fun and become an honorary Dutch Dancer for the day! A tour of our Frisian farmhouse with connected barn shows how a Dutch farm family would have lived in those times.
Everyone enjoys a visit to our wooden shoe factory where shoes are carved by hand and with antique automated machinery. Trying on a pair of Klompen (wooden shoes) is a rare and fun experience.
Children delight in feeding our farm animals, sliding down the giant wooden shoe slide, riding our restored antique carousel, and taking the big swing on our popular Zweefmolen (Dutch Swing Ride). There is no extra charge for any of our rides.
Adults can step onto our Heksenwaag (a 200-year-old witches' scale) to find out who is guilty of witchcraft, hand crank an Amsterdam street organ, and sample Dutch specialty foods. Educational movies, enjoyed by both adults and children, are shown throughout the day. Our Klederdracht (costume) Museum features authentic costumes in typical settings and a doll exhibit showcasing 150 provincial costumes. A large diorama depicts a Dutch country scene.
Each year we add new and fun activities. Children love to visit with our miniature farm animals including pigs and horses. Our other animals include goats, rabbits, chickens. We have a new kids ride - Petal Pumper cars. Dutch Cheese making, International Cheese Tasting, Dutch Delftware Making, The Petting Zoo, Dutch Dancing Lessons, and Walking Our Goat are also newer added attraction. Click here to see a preview of some of these attractions.
There is convenient free parking for any vehicle including busses and motor homes. For more information on the Holland area and lodging properties, please visit our links page.
The video below of our park was shot at the beginning of the 2012 park season by and shown on a Grand Rapids TV Station.
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