Holland Harbor North Pier
After visiting the Holland Museum in downtown Holland for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, we decided to do as we often do when we have extra time: head to the water. I had not been to the Holland Beach since the 8th grade when I had the pleasure of tagging along for my brother’s college tours across the Midwest. Neither of us went to Hope College in the end, but if I had chosen a school based on the beauty of the closest pierhead, Hope College might have been the winner. When we visited, both piers were covered in a fresh layer of ice, snow, and water from the nearby crashing waves. I tiptoed out a ways onto the north pier to get a better view of the south pier and lights, which, in hindsight, was not the best idea without spikes, but I survived to tell the tale. The Holland Harbor Light, which is affectionately known as Big Red, was first lit in 1872 and was modernized with a steel tower in 1907. In 1932, the light saw automation via the Coast Guard, putting the lighthouse crew out of work. They also painted the entire building red in the 1950s, after which locals began calling the building Big Red. Although the light was still active, the Coast Guard tried to abandon it in the 1970s. The harbor had two pierhead lights, disregarding the need for Big Red, but after public outcry to keep the light functional, the Coast Guard agreed. Today, it is owned by the Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is held under protected status from the US Department of the Interior. Similarly to the Grand Haven Lights, in my opinion the best place to view the lights from is the north side. The north pier connects to Holland State Park and is easily accessible year-round.
