Tulips had been cultivated in Turkish gardens for years and there
were over a thousand types of tulips by the time Europe discovered the
flower. In the late 16th century tulips were brought to
Europe by the Austrian ambassador to Turkey, then known as
Constantinople. From Austria tulips made their way to the Netherlands
where the Dutch became leaders in producing prized specimens.
By the 1630s tulip speculation, or tulipmania, was rampant throughout
the Netherlands and both rich and poor were speculating in the tulip
trade, similar to the stock market in modern times. Some people sold
their land and houses in order to invest. Single bulbs of special
varieties sometimes sold for sums that were more than ten times the
annual income of someone in the middle class. Some of the most coveted
varieties were tulips that had lines and streaks rather than a solid
color. This effect is actually caused by a virus that ‘breaks’ the
color on the plant. In 1637 the tulip market crashed leaving many
Dutch penniless.
Despite the scars of tulipmania, the Dutch continued to cultivate
these colorful flowers and the Netherlands still remains the chief
source for tulip bulbs. They may no longer command such high sums, but
their beauty is priceless. Since many people who travel to Amsterdam
visit the Anne Frank House, it’s easy to learn more about the history of
Netherlands most iconic bloom at the Amsterdam Tulip Museum located
across the bridge from the Anne Frank House.
