The Holland Civic Center Place

The Full Story

For over 165 years, the property that is now known as The Holland Civic Center Place has been a staple in the downtown Holland community. Throughout its century-and-a-half long existence, the property has grown through several changes, eventually evolving into the event center that we know, love, appreciate, and enjoy today.

The Beginning

In the beginning, the Holland Civic Center Place property was a far cry from the bustling event center that it is today. In fact, it was initially a local tannery. From 1857 to 1927, the site was home to the Cappon-Bertsch Leather Company. At the time, it was the City of Holland's largest employer.

New Owners, New Ideas

In 1941, The City of Holland paid $10,000 (a little over $200,000 today) to purchase the property. Five years later, construction began on 13 steel-framed barracks for veterans. Six short years after the barracks went up, a plan for the Civic Center was presented and approved by voters. With a $500,000 bond, the original Civic Center was built.

Hosting the Community

Since reopening after the renovation, the Holland Civic Center Place has had the pleasure of hosting hundreds of events for the people within our community and beyond. The modern and inviting spaces within the facility allow us to hold events of all kinds. We are proud to offer a fantastic place for everything from weddings to class reunions, luncheons to board meetings, galas, and sold-out concerts, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the event spaces inside the Holland Civic Center Place by clicking here! The possibilities are endless!

$16.5 Million Transformation

Decades later, the dream of a renewed facility capable of holding bigger and better events was born. In 2016, construction commenced on the newly envisioned Holland Civic Center Place. The $16.5 million project took more than a year to complete, officially opening to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 29, 2018. The Memory Wall that spans across the atrium balcony serves as a reminder of where it all started, along with accents of history throughout the building.

Becoming an Event Center

On October 26, 1954, the Civic Center opened its doors for the venue's very first event: a more-than-sold-out Harlem Globetrotters game, hosting 2700 patrons. The Civic Center was officially dedicated three weeks later.