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Visit Pella

Dutch Culture

Pella is America’s Dutch Treasure! Visit the Netherlands, here in the Midwest. Explore our heritage museums, Dutch architecture, and the tallest working grain windmill in the United States. Taste pastries, meats and cheeses created from old-world recipes. Celebrate with us during our annual Tulip Time festival, featuring parades, the community dressed in authentic Dutch costumes, food, shopping markets, performances, and more.

 

To Do & See:

  • Vermeer Mill

    Visit the Pella Historical Society Museums and Vermeer Windmill. The Vermeer Windmill is the tallest working grain windmill in the United States! Enjoy a guided tour showcasing the ingenuity and history behind these impressive structures, and view Pella from the observation deck. Then, meander through 21 other buildings forming the Historical Village, including a blacksmith shop, wooden shoe maker shop, puppet theater, church, bakery, and the childhood home of Wyatt Earp.

  • Explore Pella’s historic downtown. This bustling and beautiful city center features impressive architecture reminiscent of the Netherlands, surrounding a city park with colorful flowers and green spaces.
  • Klokkenspel. This carillon clock goes off on odd hours, ringing throughout the downtown. Figurines make their appearance, portraying important pieces of Pella’s history. The courtyard of the clock has lovely flowers, a fountain, and tile murals.
  • Molengracht Plaza: This gorgeous setting is a must see. Enjoy a waterway with a working drawbridge surrounded by beautiful, Dutch-inspired architecture.
  • Sunken Gardens: This park features a decorative windmill, lovely landscaping and a pond shaped like a wooden shoe.

Pella Bologna

To Eat:

• Visit our local Dutch bakeries, Jaarsma Bakery and Vander Ploeg Bakery. Both feature famous Dutch Letters, as well as many other    pastries and favorites handed down from generation to generation. Delicious!

• Pella bologna and Gouda cheese are must-try savory flavors with Dutch roots. Visit Int’Veld’s Meat Market and Ulrich’s Meat Market to try them!

• Dutch Fix is a fast dining option featuring Dutch street foods. Poffertjes (tiny Dutch pancakes), Friites (Dutch fries with special sauce), and Oliebollen (cinnamon raisin dumplings) are specialties.