The Dutch Tulip Trade: Bulbs, Bubbles, and the First Crash

In the 1630s, the Dutch Republic became gripped by a frenzy over tulip bulbs—a speculative mania that saw single bulbs trade for more than a skilled craftsman's annual wage. This episode explores how the tulip, originally from the Ottoman Empire, became a luxury status symbol, the role of the VOC in importing bulbs, and the rise of 'florists' who bred rare color patterns. We follow the story of the Semper Augustus bulb, the notorious 'sailor and the onion' anecdote, and the sudden crash of February 1637 that left speculators bankrupt. Featuring the tavern-based 'college' trading system, the professional florist Pieter van der Molen, and the enduring myth versus reality of tulip mania—debated by economists like Earl Thompson and Anne Goldgar—this episode uncovers the origins of modern financial bubbles. A cautionary tale of greed, beauty, and the Dutch knack for turning anything into a commodity. #TulipMania #DutchGoldenAge #SemperAugustus #ViceroyBulb #SpeculativeBubble #FinancialHistory #VOC #OttomanEmpire #Florist #Bloembollen #PieterVanDerMolen #EarlThompson #AnneGoldgar #EconomicHistory #1630s #Amsterdam #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo