Tulip Fever was the 17th-century Dutch mania where single tulip bulbs sold for more than a mansion, only to crash to zero in a week. It remains the ultimate metaphor for speculative bubbles, from Bitcoin to Beanie Babies.
By 1634, demand for these rare, flamed "Semper Augustus" or "Viceroy" bulbs exploded. Because tulips grow slowly—a bulb takes a year to flower, and seeds take up to seven years—supply could not keep up with demand. Tulip Fever
★★½ (⭐⭐⭐ for visual beauty, ⭐⭐ for plot) Tulip Fever was the 17th-century Dutch mania where
In the early 1600s, the Dutch Republic was experiencing its Golden Age. Having won independence from Spain, the small nation had become a maritime superpower. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the world’s first multinational corporation, bringing exotic spices, silks, and porcelain from the East. The merchant class was burgeoning, and with trade came immense wealth. Because tulips grow slowly—a bulb takes a year
To escape her loveless marriage and secure a future together, Sophia and Jan enter the volatile world of "Tulip Mania," betting their meager savings on rare bulbs in hopes of making a fortune. The Deception:
The catalyst for the frenzy was not just wealth, but biology. The most coveted tulips were not the solid red or yellow varieties, but those with intricate, flame-like streaks of color on white or yellow backgrounds. Varieties with names like 'Semper Augustus' and 'Viceroy' featured stunning, feathery patterns that made them look like living works of art.