Having spent six months living in Amsterdam, I've long been suspicious as to the merits of Dutch cuisine. From frikandel (a deep-fried sausage served with mayo) to kroket (once more; deep-fried meat with mayo) as far as I'm concerned it leaves a lot to be desired. This weekends visit to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival, didn't do much to convince me otherwise. It did, however, reveal all that is great about Dutch culture. From traditional dancers in clogs to games and other festivities, it was a day full of kitsch fun. Held annually from September 15th to October 12th, the Tesselaar Tulip Festival is situated at a working farm in Silvan, on the outskirts of Melbourne, and is a beautiful celebration of the colour and tradition. There are a number of different events to keep everyone happy, from a Turkish weekend to a Food, Wine and Jazz weekend. If you're looking for something a little different than your standard weekend outing, head to the tulip festival for a kooky and cultural day out. read more