Found an item? Your responsibilities

What to do when you find someone else's property — your responsibilities and how to return it safely.

Found something in Holland? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
Don't assume it's yours to keep. Keeping found property without trying to return it can have legal consequences. When in doubt, hand it in.
Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Holland; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Holland with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Holland

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Holland

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Found drones near Windmill Island Gardens.

Found drones this morning around 9:40 AM by Windmill Island Gardens in Holland. They were lying near a bench by the canal, with the remote resting next to them on the grass. I didn’t see any tags or identifying marks, so I held onto them and kept them in a safe spot. It felt rewarding to reunite tech with its owner in a small way, and I hope this listing helps someone claim what’s theirs.

Reward

Near Windmill Island Gardens, Holland. 8 days ago

found M

Found: Travel Adapters in downtown Holland.

I found these Travel Adapters at 2:15 p.m. Sunday near Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan. I was strolling along the canal promenade and spotted a small bundle under a bench. They looked recently dropped and I tucked them into my bag for safekeeping until the owner claims them here. It felt good, knowing someone traveling through town might get their plugs back in time for their next trip.

Sentimental

near City Hall parking lot 18 days ago

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Found wireless earbuds in black charging case

I found a pair of wireless earbuds this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Windmill Island Gardens entrance in Holland. They’re in a small white charging case, and there’s a blue star sticker on the front and a tiny crack on the corner. The buds are black with a matte finish, and the case lid snaps shut firmly. Someone has lightly etched 'LM' on the inner lid, which might help the owner identify them. If these belong to you, please reach out—I'm hoping to return them to you soon.

Holland about 1 month ago

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Blue paperback novel with brass bookmark found Holland

I found a blue paperback edition of The Night Circus with a brass bookmark this afternoon around 1:45pm behind the benches near the Holland Public Library on West 8th Street. The cover is a bit creased and the spine shows wear from a lot of reads. Inside, there’s a tiny doodle of a fox in the margin of page 112 and a faded library stamp on the inside cover. There’s also a crumpled receipt from a coffee shop tucked between the pages—a small clue to the owner. It looks well loved, and it would mean a lot to me to get it back to the person who lost it.

Holland about 1 month ago

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Found blue abstract canvas, 18x24 inches

I found this afternoon around 2:15pm a framed blue abstract canvas near Windmill Island Gardens, along 9th Street just off Washington Ave in downtown Holland. It's an 18x24 inch piece with a cherry wood frame and glass front, featuring cobalt blue, teal, and gold swirls. On the back there's a small white sticker that reads 'Haven Art, #72' and a signature 'L. Rivera 2022' in the bottom-right corner of the canvas. The frame shows a minor scuff on the lower edge, but the piece is otherwise in good condition. If this belongs to someone, please reach out—it's clearly cherished and I'm happy to help get it back to its owner.

Holland about 1 month ago

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Prescription glasses found at Tulip Time parade

Found: Prescription glasses at Tulip Time parade at 8th St. and Columbia.

Holland about 2 months ago