It’s the one holiday of the year that either makes people glee with excitement or groan in indignation—Valentine’s Day. It’s more than just another day. It requires planning. It requires thoughtfulness. It requires putting forth your best effort in hopes that your significant other will appreciate all the time and effort it took to make dinner reservations two weeks in advance, place a flower order of her favorite arrangement, and put together a basket of random goodies.
It’s about romance—or at least knowing you tried. Because most of the time it won’t go the way you planned it. It’s about the reservations being booked too late because she requested the most popular restaurant, the flowers being wilted upon pickup, and the random assortment of goodies being a toothbrush and bubble gum (and then you risk sending the wrong message).
But for Hollanders, the holiday comes with its own flair. This isn’t some big city bursting with rooftop dinner or swan boat rides.
This is West Michigan. In February, no less. It’s where the wind hurts your face and sunset happens before dinner. It looks a little different here.
It means that in order to walk the streets of downtown, you must bundle up and convince yourself that it’s “not that cold” whilst speed-walking past snowbanks. It might mean a scenic drive to Holland State Park to stare at a frozen Lake Michigan for exactly 12 minutes from the warmth of your car’s heated seats.
Or maybe it might mean dinner time is at 5:15 p.m. to “beat the rush,” followed by running into three couples you know. It could be a late-night trip to the Meijer on 16th Street in search of already discounted heart-shaped Reese’s, all under that lovely fluorescent, hospital-esque lighting.
And yet, there’s something charming about it all.
If you are without set-in-stone plans, there might be a few options available to make up for your last-minute scramble. Because sometimes, the most meaningful gestures aren’t the ones you book weeks in advance and curtail to perfect standards. They’re the ones that show thoughtfulness and spontaneity.
If your relationship is less than six months old, you might succumb to this stereotypical scene: both of you, clad in a black puffer coat and a beanie, and saying, “It’s not that cold.” You look like every other young couple downtown. That’s the joke. The date will consist of walking up and down 8th Street with no destination in mind. You might swing by Foxtail Coffee Co. for a steamy hot chocolate to keep your hands warm. And neither of you will insist going back to the car until you’ve completed the loop (but mostly because you’re too early in the relationship to be direct with one another).
This is the typical first date activity if you’re from Holland. It consists of driving to Holland State Park, choosing a parking spot closest to the sand, and staring at the frozen water. You’ll both say, “Wow, it’s cold out there,” from the confines of your temperature-controlled vehicle, and then drive away once the sun has dropped below the horizon. All for a total of 12 minutes.
If your holiday itinerary consists of staying-in, chances are a Meijer run is on the to-do list. And here, you’ll run into at least three people you know—one of whom will corner you in the produce section for a 30-minute catch-up sesh. And no matter how many “Michigan Goodbye” tactics you attempt, escaping won’t be easy.
But once you finally break free, you and your significant other will debate what kind of sweet treat you’ll be taking home. Nothing says love like a tiff taking place under fluorescent lighting. But for real, though, if you want to spice up the grocery run, consider it a challenge: set a $20 budget, a 20-minute time limit, and split up to assemble an appetizer, main course, drink, and dessert. Then meet back up and debate whose pick you’ll purchase.
If you can’t come up with anything more unique, take the safe route and indulge in a nice dinner and movie—the Hollander way. To start off, pick a restaurant in downtown Holland (where every other couple had the exact same idea). The popular spots include New Holland Brewing Co., Hops at 84 East, and HopCat. If you didn’t make reservations two weeks ago, then congrats: you’re now bonding over a 45-minute wait time.
Afterwards, head to Sperry’s Moviehouse. (And make sure you’ve left enough room in your stomach for popcorn.) There’s just something undeniably charming about a movie theater downtown—the sparkling lights, the comfy reclining seats, and the brisk lake-effect wind on the walk back to the car.
It’s popular. It’s low maintenance. And it’s delicious. If you’re looking to ditch the busy restaurants and hit up the drive-thru, make sure it’s Chick-Fil-A. Their fancy, heart-shaped tin of nuggets could make the perfect snack to take back home for a night spent on the couch watching a movie.
7 Brew, the local coffee craze, might be the place to kick off your festivities (with a caffeine-boost). And luckily, the menu includes a Valentine’s Day deal—2 drinks for $9, all day. It will be busy, but the time spent sitting in a seemingly endless line of cars will be good quality time. Then, you’ll taste test one another’s drinks and one of you will regret your choice—it’s just what couples do.
If you’re spending Valentine’s Day in Holland, Michigan, you’ll come to realize that the experience is more meaningful when it’s windburned cheeks, early dinner reservations, sharing fries in the parking lot, debating desserts in the bakery, and sitting in a parked car for twelve minutes at the beach.
It’s not like you see it in the movies. It’s not even how it looks in Grand Rapids. It’s the Hollander way.
Sierra Ozolins is a West Michigan native, currently a student at Hope College. As an athlete, she is passionate about fitness—from running to weightlifting. With a interest for politics and lifestyle, she is intrigued how local culture, community, and everyday events shape the world around her—often with an iced coffee in hand and her dog by her side.
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