Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands Apr 30, 2026

Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands

Imagine a flower sparking a financial frenzy. Sounds unlikely, right? Yet in the 1630s, tulips did exactly that in the Netherlands. During tulip mania, rare bulbs became luxury items traded for astonishing sums—some valued at prices comparable to a house. Why so valuable? Unusual colors and striped patterns were scarce and unpredictable, and collectors wanted the rarest varieties they could find.

© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 30, 2018Swinging into International Jazz Day
Apr 30, 2019It s International Jazz Day
Apr 30, 2020What kind of bird laid these eggs?
Apr 30, 2021The Spirit of Harlem by Louis Delsarte
Apr 30, 2022International Jazz Day
Apr 30, 2023International Jazz Day
Apr 30, 2024Cheetah in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Apr 30, 2025International Jazz Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 18, 2021A Welsh wonder turns 70
Dec 13, 2021Old Town Quito
Jul 27, 2018Composite image of a lunar eclipse
Feb 16, 2024Great Backyard Bird Count
Sep 18, 2025Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
Jan 11, 2019Life in a North African town
Mar 27, 2021Blink and you ll miss it
May 22, 2019The artists come to Venice
Jun 21, 2023Summer solstice
Feb 10, 2023Ancient theater of Epidaurus, Greece
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Nov 18, 2018An inland ocean
Apr 9, 2019The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
Jun 23, 2019Adorable activism
Jun 3, 2022World Bicycle Day
Nov 3, 2020Vote!
Mar 27, 2023New York City skyline
Jul 23, 2018Tokyo welcomes a futuristic new art museum
Jan 28, 2018Winter scenery near Kuhmo, Finland
Jan 18, 2018Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
Jun 15, 2024International Surfing Day
Apr 1, 2018Happy Easter from the ‘peeps’ at Bing
Dec 23, 2023Festivus
Nov 20, 2020Atop the Needle of Chamonix
Jun 24, 2018The Twin Cities celebrate Pride
Jun 15, 2023Nature Photography Day
Nov 11, 2020Honoring our veterans
Jan 26, 2018Eastern grey kangaroos in Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park
Jul 28, 2018Defying gravity on a swing ride
Feb 17, 2021The persistence of Perito Moreno