Most theme parks are all about the rides, while Nelis’ is really all about the overall experience of learning about the Netherlands without actually enduring a long plane ride. Guests have the opportunity to watch and learn authentic Dutch dances during their visit. The Dutch are famous for their wooden shoes, and Nelis’ is no exception when it comes to continuing that tradition. You can take in one of the demonstrations on how the “klompen” or wooden shoes are made throughout the day.
There’s no need to leave the park if you get a bit hungry. The Hungry Dutchman Café is an excellent place for lunch. Although Dutch foods are on the menu, they understand that little ones can sometimes be picky eaters and offer American choices as well. As much as I love food, I love sweets even more! Thankfully the theme park has an ice cream shop on the grounds. You can have some before or after your meal. You can continue exploring the park after lunch but if you feel that a snack is in order, there are cheese tastings that highlight the imported Dutch cheese. If you start to get intrigued by these delicious cheeses, the village has a farmhouse that showcases the process of cheese-making.
If you visit the park between the last week in April and mid-May, you’ll have more of a chance of seeing the theme parks’ beautiful and famous tulips. If you happen to fall in love with these lovely flowers, the staff at Nelis’ Dutch Village can help you order tulip bulbs and have them delivered to your home which would make for a beautiful reminder of your time there.
While this may not be a theme park where you center an entire trip around, it is still a good addition to a well-rounded trip to Michigan. It is about 2 hours away from Detroit and about an hour from Ann Arbor. This gives you plenty of other sights and activities during a trip!