This Is Iowa's Quirkiest Little Town

Orange City is situated in Iowa's northwestern corner, making it easily accessible for travelers crossing the country via Interstate 29 or 90. The town is home to a population of approximately 6,300 and appears to have been plucked from a Dutch postcard. This community might be unlike anything else you can find in the Hawkeye State. Yet beneath its picturesque backdrop of windmills, tulips, and red brick sidewalks lies a distinct character. The Dutch heritage is infused in everything happening here in this quaint town, from the Dutch American Heritage Museum to local businesses like Pizza Ranch, which features a charming windmill out front.

Setting Up A Dutch Settlement That Persists to This Day

Orange City was founded in 1870 by Dutch immigrants fleeing religious and political strife. It was named for William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch royal family. The new settlers hoped for a community where their culture could flourish—a hope that still lives in the town's meticulously maintained cobblestone streets today. Orange City demonstrates its unique commitment to its heritage through adherence to strict Dutch building codes. New stores must appear Dutch in architecture— picture sharply pitched rooftops, brightly painted shutters, and decorative brickwork.

This rule even applies to franchise locations that set up shop within municipal limits, whether they are restaurants or convenience stores. The local Casey's General Store has a frontage that appears Dutch, so it is possibly Iowa's most memorable gas station for travelers to discover. This unique rule with architecture and commitment to customs makes it one of the most whimsical towns to visit.

One of the Midwest’s Quirkiest Festivals

The Orange City Tulip Festival has been held every May since 1936, with only minimal interruptions, such as World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a vibrant event with wooden shoes, street sweeping, and choreographed klompen dancing. Beyond the feeling of a regal event, you have actual residents sweeping the streets in front of the mock Dutch royal family as they parade through the streets. This pageantry is worth a visit on its own, but many find their way to this festival to see the Dutch Dozen, a teen troupe of musical performers in period clothing and musicals in the town hall each night of the event.

Beyond the entertainment value, the true allure of the festival is the blooming of countless tulips all throughout town and its surrounding landscape. The Orange City Parks and Recreation Department meticulously cares for thousands of tulips, making sure they are healthy and ready for this annual event where they shine brightest. Some tulip varieties are rare, such as the "Queen of the Night" and the "Flaming Parrot."

The Commercial Curiosities of Orange City

Want to build a house or open a coffee shop? Expect your blueprints to be examined for Dutch authenticity. The zoning laws in the city are Iowa's most quirky, enforcing old-world charm with every business setting up. Some of the community's favorite stops include:

• Brad’s Breads & Bakery: A small shop that makes breads, crepes, coffees, and pastries like Dutch letters with great care. Letters are simple creations with space for an almond paste filling, but are most popular in communities with a strong Dutch heritage, such as Orange City and Pella. The menu is constantly evolving, offering a diverse selection of delicious treats, including cakes, tarts, cheesecakes, and pies.
• Woudstra Market: Since 1926, the Woudstra Market in downtown Orange City has been the premier destination for fresh and high-quality meat cuts, as well as several traditional Dutch specialties. In addition to the wide selection of meats and custom butchering offered at this small business, it is also one of the places in town to find imported Dutch candies, cheeses, and soaps.
• Pizza Ranch: Not to be outdone, even chain stores get in on the act. The local Pizza Ranch, a Midwest institution, features a windmill and often offers seasonal desserts that are deeply rooted in the almond paste tradition.

The Attractions of Orange City - Windmills and Whimsy

• Dutch American Heritage Museum: Half museum, half time capsule, it contains Dutch farming implements, 19th-century household furnishings, and a small-scale model of a Dutch canal street.
• City Center: Patterned after a European plaza, it has a working windmill. It is the focal point of community events, showcasing the town's refusal to be assimilated into the boring Midwestern community you might find elsewhere in the Hawkeye State.
• Veterans Memorial Park: Most cities have war memorials, but Orange City's features twin windmill sculptures and overlooks the tulip beds, blending reverence with a stunning backdrop that never wavers from the city’s deep Dutch roots.

Natural Beauty with a Dutch Touch

Orange City may not boast towering cliffs or roaring rivers, but it is picturesque in its layout, resembling a genuine model village. Everything about the community seems to fixate on its ornate architecture or the thousands of tulips that become the star of the annual festival here. Windmill Park, situated in the center of town, features functioning windmills, reflecting ponds, and tulip beds of every hue. In addition, there’s Veterans Pond, a serene spot for fishing or quiet walks to take in ornamental Dutch statuary.

Orange City is more than a Dutch-themed town in the upper corner of the state. It's a small Iowa town that preserves its old-world charm through its people, events, and consistent architecture. The result is a charming mix: a place where contemporary Midwest meets the Netherlands of the 1800s, complete with the scent of almond paste and the clomp of wooden shoes on brick. If you prefer a town with more windmills than fast food chains, more Dutch letters than plaza shopping centers, and a calendar driven by tulips, Orange City might be the most unique square mile in the Hawkeye State.