7 new things Tulip Time visitors will see in Holland

Holland's DeZwaan windmill as seen from above during Tulip Time 2016. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Holland doesn't look the same this year

By Amy Biolchini | abiolch1@mlive.com

HOLLAND, MI – Though Holland may seem like a quaint, sleepy town, visitors to Tulip Time this year will find change is afoot in parts of downtown.

Tulip Time runs May 6 to May 14, and encompasses various parts of downtown Holland.

Here’s seven changes visitors will notice about the city this year.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

1. New 'welkom' signs

Local controversy over the modern design of Holland's new welcome signs made national headlines last year – and this is the first Tulip Time that they'll be on full display.

Large orange columns bear the Dutch “welkom” word, and are accented by a steel lattice structure that designers said was meant to imitate windmill blades.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

Don't worry -- the old 'welkom' signs are still there

But for those adverse to the change, never fear. The city hasn’t taken down the old wooden “welkom” signs – and there is still a chance for a photo in front of the kitschier signs. The closest one to Tulip Time festivities is at the Amtrak station off of Eighth Street.

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Holland Energy Park at 1 Energy Park Way in Holland on April 26, 2017.(Daytona Niles | MLive.com)

2. New power plant

Visitors driving into downtown Holland from the west by way of Chicago Drive will be greeted by the city's brand-new $240 million natural gas-fired power plant.

Also sporting a modern design and a band of red tiles across its facade, the Holland Energy Park has been undergoing performance testing this spring. An open house to the public will likely occur in October.

Work is underway to develop trails and natural features around the power plant to connect it to a regional park and trail system.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

3. New building going up downtown

What was a parking lot behind the Reader's World building off of Eighth Street has been taken over by development this spring.

Geenen DeKock Properties owns this property as well as much of the block to the west. This building going up at 44 W. Eighth St. is the first of many new buildings the developer is planning to erect down the block.

Here, a four-story, 45,000-square-foot building will house Canterbury Cottage and the Tulip Time offices on the first floor, with residential spaces available in the upper floors.

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(Courtesy | Geenen DeKock Properties)

Here's what it will look like

This is the developer's vision for the block of Eighth Street from River to Pine avenues.

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(Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

4. Free WiFi in Centennial Park

There will be no delays this Tulip Time in sharing selfies and tulip photos from Centennial Park this year, as the city has installed a fiber line to the public park to provide free public WiFi.

The network is "Holland-BPW Public Wifi." Users have to accept the terms of use, but there is no password required.

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(Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)

New sound system too

And while visiting Centennial Park, listen closely. There's no more tinny, warbled music.

Dutch dancers in Centennial Park will be klomping to Tulip Time music pumping out of a new $55,000 sound system this year, after the festival and the city secured a grant to help replace decades-old equipment.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

5. Civic Center isn't open

Holland's "living room," as Mayor Nancy DeBoer likes to call it, is not open this Tulip Time.

The gymnasium is closed for long-debated renovations and a $16.5 million expansion project. Asbestos removal began earlier this spring, and larger scale demolition begins this summer.

Marktplaats activities that traditionally have been held at the Civic Center during the festival -- a Dutch food court, wooden shoe carving demonstrations and shopping -- have been moved to The Commons of Evergreen at 480 State St. in Holland this year.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

6. Cherry Republic is open

Cherry Republic opened this spring in Holland. The new location, at 29 W. Eighth St., will be the sixth store for the Glen Arbor retailer, which has locations in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Ann Arbor and Frankenmuth.

The 2,745-square-foot storefront previously housed Yeta's Fine Fashion's, a high-end retailer catering to plus-size fashions, that closed in the fall.

Cherry Republic isn't the only commercial news in Holland. North of downtown near the Shops at Westshore, a number of restaurant chains have recently opened including Potbelly, Chipotle and MidiCi: The Neopolitan Pizza Company.

The first Giordano's deep dish pizza restaurant in Michigan opened in September in Holland Township as well.

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

7. Ninth Street looks different

Newcomers to Holland will likely notice downtown's trademark one-way roads -- Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets.

Last year, Ninth Street underwent a major $8.19 million reconstruction, and the end result was a new traffic pattern near Hope College to accommodate pedestrians. Signs and striping will guide drivers through -- but pay attention!

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(Amy Biolchini | MLive.com)

Looking for more?

Fully detailed daily schedules of all of the activities at Tulip Time are available at www.tuliptime.com.

More from MLive.com:

Complete guide to Tulip Time 2017

Best Tulip Time vintage photos, countdown to 2017 festival

Tulips bloom around Holland as festival approaches

Tulip Time won't allow spot saving before day of parade

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