Van Raalte and his colony settled on land in the midst of the Ottawa ( Odawa) people's Old Wing Mission Colony near the Black River where it streamed to Black Lake (now Lake Macatawa) which, in turn, led to Lake Michigan. Dire economic conditions in the Netherlands compelled them to emigrate, while their desire for religious freedom led them to unite and settle together as a group.

Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr. This attempt to work and live together was not valued by the next group who arrived. While generally unsuccessful in converting the Native population, the two groups worked together relatively closely for a short time. The Ottawa living here were primarily practicing Catholics, but Smith tried converting them to Protestantism. In 1846, Reverend George Smith established the Old Wing Mission as an outreach to the native population. Ottawa County was originally populated by Ottawa Indians. It is home to Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, institutions of the Reformed Church in America. Holland was founded by Dutch Americans, and is in an area that has a large percentage of citizens of Dutch American heritage. As of 2013, both areas are part of the Grand Rapids–Kentwood–Muskegon Combined Statistical Area. The Ottawa County portion is part of the Grand Rapids- Kentwood Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Allegan County portion is part of the Holland Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is coextensive with Allegan County. Holland is the largest city in both Ottawa and Allegan counties.

As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,051, with an urbanized area population of 113,164, as of 2015. The city spans the Ottawa/ Allegan county line, with 9.08 sq mi (23.52 km 2) in Ottawa and the remaining 8.13 sq mi (21.06 km 2) in Allegan. The city also attracts thousands of visitors each year for its annual Tulip Time Festival, which celebrates the area's Dutch heritage and vibrant tulip fields.

It is home to a number of prominent companies, including Herman Miller, Haworth, and Johnson Controls. Today, Holland is a thriving city with a diverse economy that includes manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and higher education. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (formerly known locally as the Black River). Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S.

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