35 Cities That Feel Like a Different Country Without Leaving the U.S.

16. Pella, Iowa – A Dutch Gem in the Heartland

Pella may be a small town in Iowa, but its devotion to preserving Dutch heritage makes it feel like you’ve stepped straight into the Netherlands. Founded in 1847 by a group of Dutch immigrants seeking religious freedom, Pella has kept its Old World charm alive through architecture, traditions, and food. Downtown Pella is filled with Dutch-style storefronts, intricate brickwork, and canals lined with flowers. The Molengracht Plaza—a charming canal and square modeled after Dutch marketplaces—offers photo-worthy backdrops and unique shops selling imported goods. The crown jewel of the town is the Vermeer Windmill, a towering 124-foot structure and the tallest working windmill in the United States. Visitors can tour the inside, which houses a fully functional flour mill and a Dutch museum. Each May, the town comes alive during the Tulip Time Festival, where over 300,000 tulips bloom across town. Locals dress in traditional Dutch attire, perform wooden shoe dances, and host parades with elaborate floats. For foodies, Pella’s bakeries serve irresistible Dutch pastries like Dutch letters (almond-filled puff pastry shaped into an “S”), buttery krakelingen, and flaky banket. It's an unforgettable experience of Dutch culture, beautifully preserved in the heart of the American Midwest.