At first glance, it could be mistaken for a temporary gathering — a handful of tents (we counted 10) tucked off the public walking trail near downtown Holland, Michigan. But a closer look reveals something more permanent: fire pits dug into the soil, makeshift paths worn into the grass, and clusters of people who now call this stretch of the waterfront home.
The camp, located along the Window on the Waterfront pathway at River and 1st Street, has been quietly growing since early March. According to several individuals living there, approximately 20 people have settled on the city-owned 2.99-acre property, drawn to Holland for the services it offers — and what they perceive as a hands-off approach from local authorities.
“This is city land,” said Derek, a man in his late 30s who lives at the camp with his pregnant wife. “We pay taxes. We have a right to be here.”
City records confirm the property is owned by the City of Holland, located at 21 River Avenue. The site includes public trash bins and a portable toilet, but little else in terms of infrastructure.
“We don’t talk to outsiders,” a woman shouted from inside a tent as a we approached. Nearby, three men sat by a fire fueled by scavenged wood. It was only after assurances that we were not there to evict them the residents began to open up.
The Camp Population
We asked where everyone was from, not a single person we spoke to at the camp was originally from Holland. Most, like Derek and another gentleman named Javi, had arrived in Holland after spending time in cities like Muskegon, Grand Rapids, or across Michigan.
“It’s hard being homeless in those places,” said Derek. “In those places, it’s more aggressive. Here, there’s space — and people leave us alone.”
Their reasons for avoiding shelters were varied, but one theme recurred: autonomy. They don't want to be told what to do.
“Gateway [Mission] came down here, and they were nice,” said Javi, referencing the city’s Christian-based shelter and outreach service. “But they want us to follow their way. I’ve been through that. I know where it leads.”
Gateway, according to Javi, requires too much of a change - being vague - referring to the use of marijuana or meth. Harder drugs, however, are not tolerated inside the encampment. “One guy came around asking for 7 dollars in crack. We ran him off,” Derek said.
"They Stick Together"
Residents described a tight-knit community with unspoken rules: watch out for each other, don’t draw attention, and keep the peace. No formal action has yet been taken to remove the camp or relocate its residents. When we asked what the City of Holland can do for them, largely the residents of the camp wanted City of Holland to leave them alone "allow us to sit on benches downtown for more than 20mins."
The growing issue has caught the attention of the Holland Principal Shopping District, a downtown stakeholder group tasked with boosting business and tourism. In a March 6 SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, homelessness was named as both a major weakness and a top threat to the vitality of downtown Holland.
Enabling autonomy vs guided pathways
Both Community Action House and Gateway Mission have made contact with residents. Community Action House dropped off supplies, providing items to stay in their current setting. Gateway Mission has spent time at the camp encouraging individuals to seek housing or treatment and join their pathway program. But for many, the tradeoff between receiving help and giving up control is too steep. Derek a resident of the camp shared that "before COVID I went through the pathway program - it took 13 months, but I did it"
Residents of camp have been homeless for years and seem to prefer services that don't ask much of them to stay.
Questions hang over the city as spring begins and the camp shows no sign of shrinking. Even some camp residents express uncertainty about the future. “We’re here for now,” Derek said. “But who knows how long they’ll let us stay?” "They just evicted two men down the way"
The City Owns the Land — But Who Owns the Solution?
As Holland’s leaders weigh their next move, they face a broader dilemma playing out in cities across the country: Are current support systems creating a culture of enablement, or offering a necessary path to stability? The city has not yet announced any formal response to the growing encampment.
For now, life in the camp continues — a temporary solution to a long-term problem, hidden in plain sight just off the trail.
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