HOLLAND, Mich. (Michigan Back Roads) – The Netherlands “Klok” was constructed in the Netherlands. It was shipped to New York for the 1939 World’s Fair where it was a premier exhibit in the Netherlands Pavilion.
After the fair closed, the Dutch government determined that the Klok and the other items on display should not be returned to Holland because of the war that was about to engulf Europe. At that time, the Netherlands Information Bureau was located in Holland, Michigan. The director of the Bureau, Willard C. Wichers worked with the Dutch Government to have the clock and the other exhibits moved to Holland, Michigan for safekeeping. The clock and other artifacts remain in Holland, Michigan as gifts of the Dutch government.
The bronze clock stands about 8 feet tall and has seven levels. The seven tiers represent the Dutch form of government. From the top down the figures depict:
- Queen
- State Council
- Ministers
- Supreme Court
- Chambers, being the two houses of Parliament.
- Provincial States depicted by shields representing the eleven provinces.
- Burgomasters being people of industry, art and science, educators and transportation and the military being Infantry, Marines, and State Police.
The clock is currently on display at the Holland Museum in Holland, Michigan. When the clock mechanism is activated, the figures on each level go into motion and the figures appear to march around the circumference of their tier. The motion begins at the bottom tier and slowly, the other tiers activate as well.
If you want to see the clock running, you must visit the Museum on the first Saturday of the month. The clock is turned on at noon and runs for one minute. The demonstration is accompanied by a brief description of the clock and its history. At the museum, the National Anthem of the Netherlands plays while the figures march around the clock tower.
The museum boasts over 30,000 artifacts in several buildings. The building housing the clock also has a number of other exhibits of interest. There are examples of porcelain, leatherwork, furniture of course and a remarkable collection of bibles. Displayed on the second floor are several beautiful historic paintings some of which are excellent examples of Dutch Impressionism.
The Holland Museum is located at 31 W. 10th Street in Holland. For more information call (616) 796-3329.
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