Fun things to do in Haarlem

Tulpomania



It is not completely clear where the name 'tulip' comes from. The name is probably derived from the Persian word for turban: 'taliban'. In Latin this word was bastardized to Tulipa, which is even now the official name of this flower. Anyone who looks closely will see that the tulip indeed somewhat resembles a turban.

Contrary to what most foreigners think, the tulip did not originate in Holland, but in the mountain areas of the Caucasus and Persia. In the past these areas used to belong to the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. Because of that people in Holland often think that the tulip originated in Turkey. Tulips were already being cultivated in the year 1000, but the first specimens did not arrive in Europe until the end of the 16th century.

Tulip mania
The Austrian botanist Carolus Clusius brought the first tulips to Holland in 1593. He arrived in Leiden that year to become head of the botanical garden, the Hortus Botanicus. The bulbs were so expensive at that time, that only rich people could afford to buy them. But the tulip was so much in demand that people speculated with them on a large scale. In fact, thousands of guilders were paid for bulbs of unusual tulips. In the 17th century that was enough money to buy a small castle. Hence the name 'tulip mania'. In 1637 the market collapsed when it turned out that many more tulip bulbs were sold than were being grown.

Holland and tulips
Since the17th century, it has been impossible to imagine the low lands without tulips and other bulb flowers. Nowadays, Holland is the largest producer of tulips and other bulb flowers. Flower bulbs are cultivated in an area of about 20,000 hectares. Of these, half are tulips. On the other half of the area lilies, gladiolas, narcissus, hyacinths and other bulb flowers are cultivated. Holland exports more than 2 billion tulip bulbs throughout the world annually. Most of them go to the United States followed closely by Japan and Germany. Of the 1 billion bulbs that remain in Holland, the majority are used for growing cut tulips.

On the window it said that it was the smallest shop in Haarlem and peeping inside it seemed like it could have been. I was really sorry that we could not go inside as it was closed.

This was the only one we went in, in Haarlem----don't remember if the prices were good or bad :>
Near the RLD in Haarlem
great artwork and Liberty, eh?

This ornate building was built in 1603 and today is home to the Archeological Museum. (I did not go in). The architectural style is of the highest form of the Dutch Rennaisance.

These picturesque row houses with the step gables were built around 1610 and originally housed a hospital in the rear. The are across the street from the Frans Hals Museum

Currently the concert building is closed, becuase it is renovated. It will open again sometime in 2003. Meanwhile all concerts (mostly classical) are in the churches that Haarlem has.