Netherlands-based business preps first U.S. location in downtown Holland, Michigan
Austin Metz
- Heinen Delfts Blauw, a Dutch company, is opening a store in Holland, Michigan.
- The store will be located at 18 E. Eighth St., the former location of Sea Bags.
- The company hopes to open the location before Tulip Time, which begins May 2.
HOLLAND — An authentic Dutch shop is coming all the way to Holland, Michigan, from the Netherlands.
Heinen Delfts Blauw (or Heinen Delft Blue in English, as in delftware) will open in the former Sea Bags at 18 E. Eighth St. in 2025.
The family-owned business has produced unique ceramic items for 50 years. Maurits Heinen, a third generation family member, is overseeing the opening of the company’s first store in the United States. Heinen Delfts Blauw currently has nine retail stores overseas.
“We are a Dutch company originally from the Netherlands,” Heinen said. “We produce delfts blauw, which is delft blue, a type of ceramic that was established in the city of Delft almost 400-500 years ago. It’s typically Dutch and part of Dutch DNA.”
Hollanders are already intimately familiar with delftware, which is available through Nelis' Dutch Village and Veldheer Gardens. Indeed, the opening is, in part, thanks to a partnership with next-door neighbor Dutch Village Downtown.
"They're one of our primary suppliers," Joe Nelis told The Sentinel. "They came around last summer and wanted to open a concept store to sell a number of items they produce that we don't import into the American market. They have a home collection — and, of course, we're pretty firmly rooted in windmill décor, souvenirs and gifts, so we decided to work together with them."
There won't be much overlap between the shops, Nelis said.
"We've been working right alongside them," he said. "It's sort of a proof of concept. If the store does well in Holland, they can extend to bigger and better things. We've done business with them for well over 20 years."
Heinen credited Holland's already established connections with the Netherlands as one reason for coming to the area, along with the number of tourists that visit each year.
The company has spent the past decade focusing on home décor items, including tableware, wall decorations and plates, all products they'll showcase at the new location.
Heinen said the company will work hard to open the shop before Tulip Time, which begins Friday, May 2.
"I think it's great," said Gwen Auwerda, executive director of Tulip Time. "We'll have one more store."
Nelis noted Eighth Street is a "fantastic shopping area" and said working with landlord Jeff Teerman has been "a dream."
"We are really excited to open a store in this beautiful place," Heinen said. "We hope that the people will love our product and enjoy a little bit of the Netherlands in the United States."
Learn more at heinendelftsblauw.com.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz atametz@hollandsentinel.com.