Captain Sundae has been serving up frozen treats since 1980, when its flagship store opened on the North side, just a few minutes' drive from Holland State Park. It wasn’t until 2005 that Captain Sundae opened the Zeeland location. Holland South followed just one year later in 2006. Pirates Landing Mini Golf became available in 2016 at Holland North.
The shop has clearly seen success. And while the famous Tommy Turtle Sundae and wide array of flurries, shakes, and other tasty treats are arguably delicious, it’s the deep nostalgic attachment that keeps people coming back. From our sticky toddler years to sweet outings with young kids of our own, Captain Sundae has been with us through it all.
Captain Sundae is so ingrained in the identity of Holland that people don’t “go get ice cream,” they “go get Captain Sundae.”
When asked what makes Captain Sundae so special, Holland/Zeeland locals shared various memories or emotional attachments to the shop. Remi VanFarowe shared that “the tradition of going with high school teammates after games” was what made Captain Sundae special to her.
Most can relate to Hailey Reyes in that “there’s nothing better than watching the sunset at the beach and stopping at Captain Sundae on the way home!” The shop has managed to do what many others aspire to—it’s become a tradition, a routine, and, to many, the taste of home. Anna Franz put it this way:
“It’s a place that represents home that you can’t get anywhere else!”
For others, Captain Sundae will forever mark milestones in their lives. Olivia Kooiker shared that working at Captain Sundae was her first job, and that it was “so much fun to work there.” Captain Sundae has seen its fair share of first dates, family outings, and friend get-togethers. Cassie Coatney will always remember the shop as the place she and her fiancé (now husband) went after getting engaged.
For Ryan Geurink, it’s the “ship decorations that always stand out to [him] and make [him] feel all the memories.” For others, it's standing outside in a quickly moving line on a warm summer night, surrounded by beach goers and pups on leashes, and the unmistakably sweet smell of ice cream.
We all have our own reasons for continuing to come back to Captain Sundae. But at the end of the night, at the bottom of the cone, we’re all there because we're Hollanders, and you can’t spend a summer in Holland without visiting Captain Sundae. It’s tradition. It’s nostalgia. It’s Holland.
Captain Sundae is special because it gradually became the landing strip for emotional and monumental life events for the people of Ottawa County. There are very few places like it.
So, whether you take your Beach Bum Sundae to the sunset, eat your cookie dough flurry in the car, lick your chocolate vanilla twist aboard the pirate ship, or sip your mint grasshopper shake while playing mini golf, enjoy your Captain Sundae anyway you please this spring break. And perhaps, amidst it all, take a moment to reflect on how and when and why this particular ice cream shop came to be so special to you, too.
Jade Havenaar is a Holland native and a life-long lover of the lake, coffee, and a good book. She’s a former middle school teacher and a published author. After marrying the boy she met in a bar and traveling the US together, she and her husband welcomed their first born and Jade happily added “boy mom” to the list of hats she wears. When she’s not writing or changing diapers, she’s probably out adventuring with her Golden Retriever, Henry.
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