Grape hyacinths and tulips, Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
© Martin Ruegner/Getty Image
Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
Imagine a flower sparking a financial frenzy. Sounds unlikely, right? Yet in the 1630s, tulips did exactly that in the Netherlands. During tulip mania, rare bulbs became luxury items traded for astonishing sums—some valued at prices comparable to a house. Why so valuable? Unusual colours and striped patterns were scarce and unpredictable, and collectors wanted the rarest varieties they could find.
The bubble eventually burst, but the country's fascination with tulips never faded. Centuries later, that long relationship with the flower found a new stage: Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, seen in today's image. Opened in 1950, the park began as a spring exhibition where Dutch bulb growers presented their newest varieties to buyers and visitors.
Each autumn, about 40 gardeners plant over seven million bulbs in layered designs so colours appear in waves through spring. Around 800 varieties of tulips lead the show, while grape hyacinths and daffodils add bursts of blue and yellow. The catch? The garden opens to the public for only a few weeks each year.
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