About Holland
Holland Michigan is rich in maritime history. Dutch settlers looking for a better life left the Netherlands in mid 1800’s… settling along the shores of Black Lake, now Lake Macatawa and Holland. Dutch heritage is deeply rooted in its connection to rivers & seas. The Netherlands has been a seafaring nation for over 5 Centuries. The Golden Age of the Dutch Navy dominated the seas through much of the 16th & 17th Century. Today, the Netherlands still leads in European Cargo tonnage transport through Europe. And of course, Holland America Cruise Lines maintains a stellar reputation as the world’s leading purveyor of pleasure cruise ships.
The Dutch settlers in Holland realized very quickly that for their new settlement to thrive, they needed adequate shipping access to Lake Michigan. After trying to obtain government aid, the determined Hollanders took up picks & shovels and went about digging the channel themselves. Once complete the channel connecting Lake Macatawa to Lake Michigan opened the area to lumber, fishing, and other forms of maritime trade. The channel today is guarded by “Big Red” one of the Great Lakes most pictured lighthouses and only one of 12 with “protected status”.
Over the years nearly 50 boat builders were connected or took roots in Holland. Iconic builders like Leon Slikkers and Christopher Columbus Smith not only established name brands like S-2 Yachts (Tiara/Pursuit) & Chris Craft … but engineered classic designs that are the foundation of many modern-day boat manufacturers.
Independently owned and operated by Equity Boat Works LLC
We Take Care of It All...Including the Boats
We’ve taken care to select a variety of quality boats. And we always keep them clean and maintained. We also take care of the storage, insurance and repairs. So you can just focus on the fun!
Pay a 1x Entry Fee and Monthly Dues
Just pay a 1x entry fee and choose one of our membership plans. Boat every day of the year. Or just weekdays. Some clubs may even have 3 and 6 month plans. And you can change your plan as the need arises.
Get Unlimited Training from Licensed Captains
Your safety is our No. 1 concern. So we give all our members unlimited training with certified captains. And if you wish to boat in a new location, they’ll show you the waterways.
Take Any Boat Out as Often as You Wish
Reserve a boat by phone or online. Then go fishing, tubing or head to a restaurant with friends. When you’re done, just bring the boat back and pay for the fuel. We take care of everything else!
- World’s oldest and largest membership boat club with over 30 years of experience
- Reciprocal access to 370+ Locations in the US, Canada and Europe
- We take care of the maintenance, cleaning, repair, insurance and storage
- Fleet (which varies by location) includes bowriders, pontoons, offshore/inshore fishing boats (center consoles), deck boats and wake boats
- Insurance coverage of liability, hull and machinery
- 1-on-1 training by licensed captains
I absolutely love it!
Love how easy it is to go boating. Wish we could have found more days in our schedule to get out in the water. Any chance you might open a location in Gull Lake?
Great value, wish we lived closer to Holland, would use it more
Love to take my friends and family out boating.
The pricing structure is much like a country club. You will pay a one-time entry fee and monthly dues based on the membership that you choose. Connect with the club nearest you to learn more about membership options and current promotions!
Reserving a boat has never been easier. Simply log in to your reservation dashboard and choose your desired date, vessel, and time slot.
Freedom Boat Club is truly unlimited boating. We allow up to 4 rolling reservations at any given time. Simply put – you can have 4 reservations on the books. Once you use one, you free one up. You may book up to 6 months in advance!
Number and type of boats will vary by location. Connect with the club nearest you to learn more about the local fleet.