Lynden is home to Washington State’s largest Dutch settlement and is the heart of the region’s farmland. This is also a village that loves to celebrate life’s simpler things. Throughout the year the community rolls out the red carpet with authentic festivals and events that showcase their heritage, like the Northwest Raspberry Festival and the Farmers Day Parade. The granddaddy celebration of them all is the Northwest Washington Fair each August.
Exploring Lynden
The town of Lynden offers a number of historical adventures all within a few block radius. Start with an overnight stay at the Inn at Lynden, located in a 100-year old building that has been beautifully transformed from a turn of the century department store into a luxurious 35-room boutique hotel.
Spend your first day exploring the town’s deep Dutch roots. Make your way to the Jansen Art Center, while taking in the dutch influenced architecture, which was recently renovated from the old City Hall and Firehouse to a state-of-the-art, arts center, featuring scads of art by talented regional artists and classes and demonstrations on everything from pottery to dance to jewelry making and painting.
Wind up your historical adventure by taking in a visit to the right-next-door Lynden Pioneer Museum, where they boast the largest horse drawn carriage collection west of the Mississippi. They also offer a myriad display of local artifacts and interesting historical tidbits. If architecture is really your thing, stop by City Hall and pick up a walking map of all the major architectural styles represented in the residences of Lynden.
Want more? The Lynden post office boasts a very rare historic mural commissioned by the federal government during the Great Depression and nearby Berthusen Park display a multitude of antique tractors and well-preserved early logging and farming equipment.
Other attractions include: Bellingham Baby Company, BelleWood Acres, Claire VG Thomas Theatre, Fairway Center, Jansen Art Center, Lynden Pioneer Museum and the Village Books and Paper Dreams
Eating in Lynden

Lynden is full of local and delicious restaurants. Not only will you find unique Dutch cuisine, you will also find out just how fresh food can be.
Hotels in Lynden
There has been a lot of changes happening around Lynden over the past few years. They have officially welcomed its first boutique hotel on Dec. 28, 2015 when the 35-room Inn at Lynden opened its doors to travelers in the century-old Waples Mercantile Building at the corner of 5th and Front streets in the historic downtown district. The Inn shares space with a number of boutique retailers including Village Books and Bellingham Baby Company, Overflow Taps and Avenue Bread.
- Inn at Lynden – 100 5th St., Lynden WA
- Oostema Farmstead Inn – 8402 Northwood Rd., Lynden WA