171 Lincoln Avenue
Holland, MI 49423
Passengers gather their belongings as Amtrak’s Pere Marquette arrives to the Padnos Transportation Center in Holland, Mich. on Jan. 23, 2005. (Photo by J.R. Valderas)
The unstaffed Holland station was extensively remodeled in the 1980’s, and turned a rather spartan station building into an exceptionally attractive facility. Located right at the entrance of Windmill Island Gardens, the station has 34 free parking spaces. The area is quite safe, and cars can be left for extended periods. The station serves Amtrak, Indian Trails intercity coach service and Macatawa Area Express (MAX) buses; the waiting room hours are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Seven days a week.
The interior is attractive and comfortable, and a Quik-Trak Self-Service Ticketing Kiosk has been installed by Amtrak. The exterior has outstanding landscaping, and in good weather, the exterior walkways are so pleasant that many passengers prefer to wait outside. There are vending machines inside the station.
Macatawa Area Express (MAX) service is available for the morning train, but only Monday through Saturday. Call (616) 355-1010 for details.
Much of western Michigan’s Lower Peninsula was settled by the Dutch, and Dutch names are by far still the most prevalent in this area. Holland is the heart of Michigan’s Dutch country, and retains a distinctive Dutch flavor that goes well beyond the souvenir shops. Downtown Holland is a short walk from the station, and is sparkling clean, friendly and delightful. Be sure to visit Holland during its Tulip Time Festival, an annual event in May which draws visitors from all across the nation.
Amtrak station page:
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=am2Station&pagename=am%2Fam2Station%2FStation_Page&cid=1229726270788
The renovation work restored the station to much of its original grandeur. The confusing waiting room created during a 1970s renovation was restored to a more open setting, with a new wrought-iron and wood Amtrak ticket window installed at the center of the building. The bay window was restored, and original and duplicate wooden benches now grace the waiting room. A sundry and snack shop is open at the Rose Street (west) end of the building for passengers to make purchases. There is also a McDonald’s across Rose, and several other excellent but inexpensive restaurants within a short walk of the station.
The station’s only downfall is its close proximity to a local rescue mission, whose clients often drop into the station for brief periods of time. The Kalamazoo Police Department regularly has patrols through the station to keep the situation under control. Although the waiting room is much larger than just a few years ago, it can be a very busy place, and crowds often get quite large for popular trains. Station stops are often longer than normal due to the high passenger count here.
