Like a piece of Holland, planted in Iowa farmland
Pella: 48-Hour Escape from Des Moines
A Dutch town with a working grain windmill, a canal through downtown, and a bakery that has been making Dutch letters since 1898.
Pella: A Dutch town with a working grain windmill, a canal through downtown, and a bakery that has been making Dutch letters since 1898.
At a glance
Pella, Iowa is a 45 min drive from Des Moines, best visited Late April-May, September-October. Like a piece of Holland, planted in Iowa farmland. Top things to do: Vermeer Mill and the Molengracht, Pella Historical Village, Tulip Time and the town square. Where to eat: Jaarsma Bakery, Butcher's Brewhuis and Deli, Liberty Street Kitchen. Stay at Downtown Pella inns or Pella B&Bs and guest houses.
81
of 100
Escape score
Worth the drive on its own
A short drive for what you get.
- Drive
- 45 min from Des Moines
- Best window
- Late April-May, September-October
- Typical stay
- ~$150/night
Escape score: what there is to do and eat (40%), typical weekend lodging cost (30%), drive time (25%), rounding (5%). Computed from our own guide data, never from paid placement.
Why here
Pella was founded in 1847 by Dutch immigrants who named it after the city in the Netherlands that their ancestors had fled, and it has never been shy about the heritage. The town square has a working grain windmill, the Vermeer Mill, built in the Dutch style and standing 134 feet tall. A canal called the Molengracht runs through downtown with flower beds and footbridges, and the annual Tulip Time festival has filled the streets with tulips, street scrubbing, and Dutch costume since 1935.
The history is one thing and the food is another. Jaarsma Bakery has been making Dutch letters, the almond-filled S-shaped pastries, since 1898, and Vander Ploeg Bakery has been doing the same since the early 1900s, which is why a town of 10,000 supports two destination bakeries. The Pella Historical Village spreads across 21 buildings downtown, including the 1847 Scholte House and a working Dutch bakery.
A weekend in Pella is a walkable eating weekend. Buy pastries, walk the square, tour the windmill and the historical village, and get dinner near the canal. Come the first week of May for Tulip Time if you want the full production, or late September for harvest and much smaller crowds. It is 45 minutes from Des Moines, so a day trip is easy and one night makes it feel like a weekend.
The plan
48 hours in Pella
Same town, two different weekends. Pick the arrival that matches your Friday.
Friday, on arrival
Check inDowntown Pella inns
From ~$140/night
Small inns and guest rooms within a couple of blocks of the square, close enough to walk to the bakery at 7am, which is the point.
Leave Des Moines after work: the 45 min drive lands you here in the evening.
Friday night
Dinner, then the main streetJaarsma Bakery
Making Dutch letters, almond pastries, and cookies here since 1898, with a line on Saturday mornings that moves fast. The first stop in Pella.
Eat first and walk it off after. Most small-town kitchens stop seating by 9.
Saturday morning
First stopVermeer Mill and the Molengracht
Mill tours ~$8, canal free. A 134-foot working grain windmill in the Dutch style, with tours up the mill, then the brick canal and footbridges through...
Saturday midday
LunchButcher's Brewhuis and Deli
Lunch and dinner in a room attached to In't Veld's Meat Market, with the famous ring bologna sandwich, reubens, and truffle mac and cheese. Expect a s...
Saturday afternoon
Second stopPella Historical Village
Entry ~$10. Twenty-one buildings, including the 1847 Scholte House, a working Dutch bakery, a miniature-town exhibit, and the Wyatt Earp house, since...
Saturday night
DinnerLiberty Street Kitchen
An elevated bistro just off the Molengracht canal, with poutine, pork chops, and a patio over the water. The dinner reservation.
Sunday morning
Last stop, then homeTulip Time and the town square
Free to walk, festival buttons for some events. Planted with tens of thousands of tulips, the square hosts the early-May festival with street scrubbin...
45 min back to Des Moines still leaves you the afternoon.
Timings are a suggestion, not a schedule. Shift the whole plan by how late you leave.
The Basecamp
Where to stay in Pella
Downtown Pella inns
Small inns and guest rooms within a couple of blocks of the square, close enough to walk to the bakery at 7am, which is the point.
Pella B&Bs and guest houses
Restored Dutch and Victorian houses renting rooms or whole houses, several with porches on the canal. The couples pick.
Lake Red Rock area cabins
Cabins and rentals 10 minutes west around Iowa's largest lake, with trails and water access if you want to add a hike. The outdoors pick.
What to do
Vermeer Mill and the Molengracht
Mill tours ~$8, canal free. A 134-foot working grain windmill in the Dutch style, with tours up the mill, then the brick canal and footbridges through downtown.
Pella Historical Village
Entry ~$10. Twenty-one buildings, including the 1847 Scholte House, a working Dutch bakery, a miniature-town exhibit, and the Wyatt Earp house, since the Earp family lived here briefly.
Tulip Time and the town square
Free to walk, festival buttons for some events. Planted with tens of thousands of tulips, the square hosts the early-May festival with street scrubbing, parades, and Dutch costume.
Pack for Pella
Trail & waterfall kit
Curated for waterfalls, trails, and summit days in Pella.
Lightweight hiking daypack
Room for layers, snacks, and the camera, without weighing you down.
See price on Amazon →Insulated water bottle
Cold water past the last switchback, hot coffee at the overlook.
See price on Amazon →Waterproof hiking boots
Grippy and dry through creek crossings and muddy gorge trails.
See price on Amazon →Rechargeable headlamp
For early trailheads and that one hike that ran long.
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Where to eat
Jaarsma Bakery
Making Dutch letters, almond pastries, and cookies here since 1898, with a line on Saturday mornings that moves fast. The first stop in Pella.
Butcher's Brewhuis and Deli
Lunch and dinner in a room attached to In't Veld's Meat Market, with the famous ring bologna sandwich, reubens, and truffle mac and cheese. Expect a short wait at noon.
Liberty Street Kitchen
An elevated bistro just off the Molengracht canal, with poutine, pork chops, and a patio over the water. The dinner reservation.
Most reviewed on Yelp
The most-reviewed restaurants in Pella. A solid indicator of where locals actually eat.
Liberty Street Kitchen
Comfort Food
George’s Pizza
Pizza
Windmill Cafe
Armenian
Review counts and ratings are curated from Yelp and may change over time.
On the calendar
Coming up in Pella
Events happening in town, refreshed weekly.
Refreshed weekly
Nov 21 to Dec 5
Festival of Trees at The Pella Opera House
Pella · Pella Opera House
The historic opera house transforms into a winter showcase featuring decorated holiday trees, festive wreaths, a silent auction, and a Christmas boutique. It is an enchanting community tradition perfect for kicking off a cozy holiday weekend escape.
Dec 3 to 5
Kerstmarkt: Pella's Dutch Christmas Market
Pella · Molengracht Plaza
Inspired by open-air holiday markets in the Netherlands, this charming event features festive vendor stalls, Dutch treats, and warm holiday cheer. It serves as an ideal centerpiece for a holiday-themed weekend getaway alongside Pella's Tour of Homes.
Getting there
Drive logistics
From Des Moines, take IA-163 southeast to IA-92, then west into Pella or follow the exits directly to the square. About 40 miles, roughly 45 minutes. The square, canal, and historical village are all walkable, with free parking around the courthouse. Lake Red Rock is 10 minutes west on IA-163, and the Vermeer Mill and the two bakeries are within three blocks of each other.
Drive time
45 min
Best time
Late April-May, September-October
Questions & Answers
Pella weekend FAQ
Pella is about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines, roughly 45 minutes by car via IA-163 and IA-92.
Yes. At 45 minutes, Pella is the easiest small-town escape from Des Moines, with a working Dutch windmill, a canal through downtown, two historic bakeries, and the Pella Historical Village.
The first Thursday through Saturday of May, running since 1935, with street scrubbing, Dutch costume, two parades, and tens of thousands of tulips. Book lodging months ahead for those three days.
An S-shaped pastry of flaky dough wrapped around almond paste, a Dutch tradition that Jaarsma Bakery has been making in Pella since 1898 and Vander Ploeg since the early 1900s.
Yes. Pastries and coffee at 8am, the windmill and historical village before lunch, the canal in the afternoon, and dinner at Liberty Street Kitchen makes an easy, unhurried weekend.
Yes, and many locals prefer it. The windmill, canal, bakeries, and historical village run all year, parking is free, and September and October bring harvest stands and much smaller crowds.
The Dispatch
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