On July 11, 1974, a meeting was held to present ideas and voice opinions about forming a guild that would oversee and conduct the annual Holland Festival. Methods of getting help and how the guild would handle finances were discussed. It was decided that in order to have a guild there would have to be a governing board. It was also determined that to continue the Holland Festival the guild would have to involve people from many local service organizations who would be willing to have booths and stands for the purpose of making money for their organization while providing a percentage of their proceeds to the guild.
A second meeting concerning the formation of a guild was held on November 13, 1974, in the basement of the village library. It was determined by that time that both the American Legion and the Kiwanis Club had decided to give up their part in planning the Holland Festival. Before those two organizations took over, the local Booster Club had planned the Holland Festival for many years.
Within a relatively short time, articles of incorporation were Chapter 15 214 submitted for consideration, and on February 28, 1975, the Holland Guild Gezelschap, Inc. was officially formed. Its purpose as stated on the membership card is:
…to promote, foster and preserve the heritage of Dutch ancestry and Dutch culture by holding festivals, and by other means, within the Village of Cedar Grove in the Town of Holland, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and to cooperate with and assist other organizations with similar purposes wherever they are located.
Milwaukee artist Hans Krommenhoek, who was born in the Netherlands, presented ideas for guild activities and helped design a suitable emblem to be part of a flag, lapel pin, and membership card. The first guild officers elected were Robert Huibregtse, president; Ralph DeSmidt, vice-president; Margaret Voskuil, secretary; and Marion Hilbelink, treasurer. Shirley Sager was in charge of public relations for the group and LeRoy Winkelhorst and Audley Roerdink also served on the initial board of directors. Charter membership was available for a fee of onedollar from February 28, 1975, until midnight on the Saturday of the 1975 Holland Festival.