II 



THE TULIP TRADE 



From De Koning's History of Haarlem (1635) 



Many, no doubt, have heard of the extraordinary mania for 

 tulips in Holland in the seventeenth century. Dutchmen of 

 all classes, highest to lowest, forsook their ordinary occupa- 

 tions and business, in order to engage in the tulip trade. 



It is said the mania began first in France in the year 

 1635, and thence spread to the Netherlands. Enormous 

 prices were paid, and even houses and land given in exchange 

 for one bulb. 



In Haarlem there stands a house, at one time in possession 

 of the Widow de Lange and Van Ek — it is numbered W. 3, 

 No. 575. It used to be two separate buildings, and one of 

 them was known as the Tulip House, because it was sold for 

 one single tulip. When the last alterations were made to 

 this house in 1858 there was still to be seen a stone set in 

 the gable, upon which was carved a tulip, and below the 

 following inscription : — 



1637. 



This stone was kept as a remembrance of the famous tulip 

 trade of the year 1637, "when one fool hatched from 

 another, the people were rich without substance, and wise 

 without knowledge." 



168 



