Tulips - Flowers of the Heavenly Mountains from Holland II.

Tulips symbolize wealth, peace, and obsession

Today, no one doubts that tulips are most famously associated with Holland. The greatest expansion occurred in the 16th - 17th century, when the Netherlands was experiencing its “Golden Age”. A period when painters were showcasing their skills with brushes. Tulips were not often depicted in paintings, but they were closely associated with the times and the artists. 

 

Eternal wealth or poverty?

In the year 1637, tulip cultivation in Dutch Leiden became very popular. The bulbs were considered extremely valuable. A law was even enacted that classified their damage as a criminal offense. The opportunity to buy tulips cheaply and sell them expensively was highly sought after. 

 

Tulips were a symbol of wealth, and thus were desired by prominent figures of the time. However, it was crucial to predict the market trend. Those who accurately predicted and sold their stock in time found a path to great wealth. The fever for money, however, ensnared the painter Rembrandt van Rijn. He kept the bulbs for even better opportunities, until they lost their value. As a result, he spent the end of his life in poverty.

Tulip bulbs for planting and dining

The world is often ruled by paradoxes. At the height of their glory, tulips had inestimable value. This was not the case in 1944 and 1945, when they were used during times of famine. The Netherlands sought every alternative it could use during these hardships, and thus tulips were eaten in various forms. Their past success had led to an enormous increase in tulip fields, making tulips abundant when other food was scarce. Creativity in recipes knew no bounds – except for one crucial thing. Tulip bulbs are considered dangerous to health. Certain processes must be followed to ensure the substances they contain are not toxic!

 

Hope in the form of tulip flowers

Over time, the role of tulips has changed. Life presents challenges that we cannot prevent, changing the world from minute to minute. The symbol of wealth can easily turn into a lifeline in poverty. Similarly, one cannot take health for granted. 

 

Tulips still play a symbolic role in the fight against Parkinson's disease. Since 1980, when a gardener with the disease from the Netherlands cultivated a new color of tulip. Shortly after his success, he succumbed to the disease, and the newly discovered variety was named after him. Since then, it has been called the “Dr. Parkinson bulb”. 

 

The blooming of tulips in spring is meant to symbolize hope for all the sick, that a cure will soon be found.

Annually, 100,000 tulips to Ottawa! 

A tradition that has occurred annually since the occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. At that time, the royal family decided to leave their country and live in Canada. In 1945, they returned to their native Europe. However, the family remained grateful for their stay abroad and therefore sent 100,000 tulips to their temporary residence – Ottawa. The gesture did not remain just a curiosity. The sent tulips are the highlight of a festival that still draws more than half a million people every year.