Ridiculous History

CLASSIC: Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s?

12 snips
Oct 14, 2025
Dive into the wild world of 1600s Dutch Tulipmania, where bulbs became so desirable they were traded like currency. Discover how tulips turned into speculative assets, with contracts resembling modern-day futures. Uncover the fascinating reasons behind their rarity and immense prices, including the allure of unique patterns. As prices skyrocketed, learn about the dramatic crash and the myths that grew around it. This tale holds surprising parallels to today's investment bubbles, offering valuable lessons on market dynamics and caution.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Why Tulips Took Off

  • Tulips became desirable in the Dutch Republic due to vivid colors and suitability for poor soil.
  • Corlis Clusius and Leiden's horticulture culture helped create elite demand that spread to merchants.
INSIGHT

Tulip Futures Preceded Modern Markets

  • Tulip trading used advance contracts because bulbs could only be dug up when dormant in summer.
  • This created an early form of futures trading built on promises of future delivery.
ANECDOTE

Rich Buyers Treat Bulbs Like Money

  • By 1633 some wealthy buyers treated bulbs like currency and paid huge sums for rare varieties.
  • Semper Augustus bulbs reportedly reached thousands of guilders and inspired wild cultivation experiments.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app