Amsterdam Travel

Today marks the first day of the Tong Tong Fair, a twelve-day celebration of Indonesian-Dutch culture and other Southeast Asian cultures. The fair, which comprises a bazaar with food and crafts and a full schedule of musical and dance performances, takes place in The Hague, about a hour's train ride from Amsterdam. Find out more about special events and other visitor information for The Hague.

The 2012 season at Keukenhof is now in its final days, and flower lovers who haven't yet visited the spectacular South Holland bulb fields have until Sunday to do so. While the tulips are on the decline, other bulbs have sprouted in their place; find out which blooms are visible at late-season Keukenhof.

The Defense Line of Amsterdam embodies a typically Dutch tactic for the defense of Amsterdam at wartime: harness the power of the water to protect the city. The UNESCO-listed defense line consisted of tracts of land that could be flooded to prevent access to Amsterdam; the forts of Weesp, Muiden and Pampus Island that stood on the defense line are now popular attractions for families, military history buffs and the simply curious. Find out more about the Defense Line of Amsterdam and visitor information for these monumental forts.

A trio of new exhibits has recently opened up at Arti et Amicitiae (Latin for "for art and friendship"), an art society whose public exhibits feature contemporary artists and themes. Stop by their headquarters, an architectural jewel on the corner of Rokin and the Spui, to admire its monumental interior and to mull over the art in the upstairs and adjoined exhibit rooms.

Today, April 30, is Queen's Day, a Dutch national holiday to honor the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Each year, the Queen and members of the royal family take the day to visit two specially chosen cities in the same Dutch province; this year, it's the central province of Utrecht. Read about Utrecht city, the capital of Utrecht province, on Amsterdam Travel.

Ever wondered how the modern day spectacle frames came to be? The Nationaal Brilmuseum (National Glasses Museum) in the fashionable 9 Streets district plumbs the history of corrective lenses with two exhibition rooms full of ocular artifacts. The first-floor museum store even lets visitors take home a piece of this history with its selection of retro frames.

The new EYE Film Institute is certainly an eye-catcher with its dramatic new headquarters on the IJ Promenade in Amsterdam North. Take a free, three-minute ferry across the river to explore its exhibits on film history and techniques, its interactive installation-packed basement, or just to take in the scenery of the IJ riverfront from its promenade or cafe-restaurant.

Tramezzino aren't exactly Dutch, but outside Italy, these crustless white bread sandwiches, filled to the brim with Italian meats and cheeses, are a rare find. The sandwich shop Il Tramezzino, however, offers two spots at which to sample this Italian specialty, both on  Haarlemmerstraat (near Amsterdam Central Station) and Utrechtsestraat (near Rembrandtsplein).

Amsterdam visitors love the Poezenboot, or "Cat Boat", the one place where out-of-towners can both satisfy their curiosity about houseboats, as well as meet the crew of adorable cats on board. Stop by this peculiarly Dutch institution, just a few minutes' walk from Central Station, on a tour of the Western Canal Belt.

It's just a little over two weeks until Queen's Day, the yearly birthday celebration of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the occasion of a raucous city-wide street party that takes over Amsterdam Center. But for some, Queen's Day is the ideal opportunity to take a day trip to one of the many other Dutch cities where the royal birthday is fêted; see my picks for the top Queen's Day destinations outside Amsterdam.

Will you be in the Netherlands on Queen's Day? Plan to spend it in Amsterdam, or another Dutch city? Share your Queen's Day plans in the comments.