Tulips at Hortus Amsterdam

The History of the Tulip

The history of the tulip is world-famous; the Golden Age, the tulip mania during which bulbs were sold for prices equivalent to houses, and humanity's desire to make it even more beautiful and shape it in every desired color. Over the past four hundred years, thousands of varieties have been cultivated. 

The modern tulip we see at the Amsterdam Flower Market shows little resemblance to its wild ancestors from the mountains of Kazakhstan. These are small, modest flowers that bloom in early spring before the hot, dry summers begin. Seen side by side at the Hortus, they are both equally beautiful. 

40 Different Varieties

In the garden, there are 40 wild and cultivated varieties on display, including the only native Dutch wild tulip, Tulipa sylvestris. Also featured is the oldest cultivar (1620), Tulipa ‘Lac van Rijn,’ and the small, slender Tulipa clusiana, which originally grows on mountain hills from Turkey to Pakistan. 

Tulips bloom in the Netherlands in April, depending on the weather.