A Visit to Orange City

Today, we’re taking a detour off the beaten path and venturing to a charming little town in Northwest Iowa: Orange City!

This town boasts a rich Dutch heritage, named after Prince William of Orange. It’s everywhere you look, from the architecture to the shops and even the food. To really delve into the history, we started out day with a self-guided walking tour found on the Orange City website. It takes you past all the unique buildings downtown, like the beautiful courthouse and leads you right to Windmill Park, which quickly became my favorite spot! Windmill Park is a beautiful representation of Dutch heritage. You’ll find six scale models of historic windmills, each representing a different period in Dutch history. There are informational signs to learn about each windmill and a band shell designed after castles in Gelderland, which hosts events throughout the summer. Did you know the flags flying here represent each province in the Netherlands? And those stunning flower beds? They’re filled with thousands of tulip bulbs imported directly from the Netherlands, blooming each May for the famous Tulip Festival. In the summer, beautiful annuals are planted in their place.

We also explored the windmill replica that houses the Orange City Chamber office, and then popped into the Dutch American Heritage Museum downtown. Here, we learned all about the town’s iconic street organ, the annual tulip festival, and even the history of those famous wooden shoes – they even showed us how they’re made!

Feeling inspired by all things global, we headed to Hands Around the World. This shop is a treasure trove of handcrafted items from artists everywhere, from food and crafts to décor – a truly unique shopping experience! A trip to Orange City wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some tasty treats! You won’t want to miss Brad’s Bakery Bistro. They have fresh-baked bread, pastries, macarons, cakes, and all sorts of delicious goodies. I couldn’t resist their strawberry vanilla Italian soda – it was amazing! Speaking of souvenirs, stop by Woudstra Meat Market to find that special something to commemorate your trip. They house custom goodies from Next Door Boutique including hand towels, ornaments, apparel, and more.

Since Orange City is home to Northwestern College, we took time to explore their beautiful campus. It’s a lovely place to stroll and soak up the atmosphere and finish the day relaxing. Thank you all for joining us on this adventure to Orange City! This quaint Dutch town truly stole our hearts, and we hope it inspired you to plan your own trip off the beaten path. Stay tuned for our next adventure!