Windmill Island Gardens

This is for you, @Pyrrhula ! Made a visit to this beautiful park in Holland, Michigan today. The windmill is called De Zwaan. It was a working windmill in the Netherlands. It was moved to Holland, Michigan in 1964. The Dutch Americans up there built a new structure for the windmill, using brick laying techniques handed down through generations. The mill was restored and is still working. The park also has beautifully planted gardens, and a channel that was dug in traditional Dutch style, to show what you might see if you were to visit the country. The guides wear different styles of Dutch costumes and wooden shoes. There is music and dancing, banket and almond cookies, and good coffee. It was a beautiful day to enjoy the park -- and Pyrrhula, I was thinking of you the whole time! (I have more pictures from the garden that I need to transfer from the camera :) )

[Elyse Klemchuk]

The Dutch government has decided they won't let any more windmills leave their country. I think southwest Michigan is a great choice for one because there's a big Dutch population there. The park also shows an introductory video on how wind energy was used over 150 years ago and how it is being widely used in the 21st century.

[ShazzyM]

Beautiful shot. I love the history

[Lisa Poland]

Wow, going through some old negatives of our years in Europe and saw a picture just like this that I had taken in the Netherlands. Great shot.

[Denise Wood]

Fantastic capture :)

[Mrs. Laloggie]

Beautiful - makes me wish I was there.

[Richard Hickey]

Stunning picture and perspective.

[gloria jones]

Lovely shot, composition

[Paul]

Nice photo and composition.

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

A lovely Dutch scene, beautiful windmill and in America. Lovely capture.

[Janiskay]

Lovely windmill and garden. If I ever get to Michigan I will have to check out this park nicely captured!

[Vicki Talbott]

Wonderful!

[Netkonnexion]

Lovely scene.

[Pyrrhula]

Thank you dear Elyse . A beautiful capture of this lovely scene. It looks you`ve taken it here in our country. Fav.
( In the day`s of the windmills it was very common that they where sold and replaced )

[Pyrrhula]

And also a big thanks of you great support and comments on mine pic.`s

[bkb in the city]

Such a beautiful picture

[Ralph Schwarten]

Wonderful composition Elyse

[April]

Very nice!

[Louise & Ken]

A fave for the wonderful photo & every bit as much, the charming description of this place!

[Hubregt Visser]

You could have fooled me. At first I thought it was a shot from somewhere in my neighbourhood. I live in The Netherlands. Great shot! I like the composition with the canal in the diagonal and the mill in the golden section point.

[alia_801]

Wonderful capture of the scene - sounds like a great place for a visit!

[Anna Kucharska]

This is great, I did think it was Holland at first.
Very beautiful, fav.

[Tremerryn]

What a beautiful scene.

[Adele]

Beautiful composition.

[Myrna O'Hara]

cool story with this shot, great composition

[PhotoCrazy]

Lovely!

[Pyrrhula]

Thanks Elyse Klemchuk for you true support and great comments .

[Angela]

Great picture. Love the textures in the water and the windmill of course

[Junko Y]

It's a lovely image, and while I can understand why the Dutch Government doesn't want to lose any more windmills, I'm sure the Dutch Americans look fondly upon this one, and the other Americans enjoy this slice of Dutch landscape as well! So sorry to hear your camera is broken. . . seems you aren't posting lately . . .