Corps de Ballet

At the height of the Ottoman Empire, around 1600, tulips were passionately cultivated and enjoyed by the Turkish Sultan in Istanbul. Long before she was introduced in the Netherlands the Turkish were collecting and cultivating Tulips. Most admired by the Sultan was the gracious, slender and elegantly shaped Needle Tulips with pointed and delicately curved petals. Like Ballet dancers they danced on top of long tender stems. These Tulips were called Needle Tulips and unfortunately, they completely disappeared from culture. When you want to know more about the history of the Tulip you enjoy the audio tour in our theme park Land van Fluwel. Along a small track through the woods we tell you the whole history of the Tulip.

Our mixture Corps the Ballet gives you a good idea what kind of Tulips that the Sultan admired so much. I do understand him; it is a picture out of Arabian Nights.