Museum de Zwarte Tulp

South Holland


The small Museum de Zwarte Tulp displays everything you might want to know about bulbs, including why there’s no such thing as a black tulip, a mythical bloom that helped drive Tulipmania in 1636. It shares a building with the tourist office.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Holland attractions

1. Kasteel Keukenhof

0.82 MILES

This grand castle across the road from Keukenhof Gardens was built in 1641 by VOC (Dutch East India Company) commander Adriaan Muertenszoon Block and sits…

2. Keukenhof Gardens

0.97 MILES

The 32-hectare Keukenhof is the world’s largest bulb-flower garden, with over seven million bulbs and a total of 800 varieties of tulips. It attracts…

3. Zijlpoort

7.05 MILES

Built in 1667 by Willem van der Helm, this grand stone edifice at Leiden's eastern edge is one of only two surviving city gates (there were originally…

4. De Valk

7.15 MILES

Leiden's landmark tower windmill – built in 1743 and now a museum – is considered one of the best examples of its kind. Its arms still occasionally rotate…

5. Museum De Lakenhal

7.23 MILES

Leiden's foremost museum reopened in 2019 following a three-year renovation. Its 1640-built premises (a former cloth warehouse) again displays its…

6. Marekerk

7.23 MILES

The Marekerk dates to 1639 and has a beautiful octagonal wooden interior. Regular concerts and theatre performances take place here; check the agenda…

7. Museum Volkenkunde

7.29 MILES

Cultural achievements by civilisations worldwide are showcased at this splendid museum, which has a collection of more than 300,000 artefacts from across…

8. Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

7.29 MILES

Named in honour of physician, botanist, chemist and University of Leiden teacher Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738), this impressive museum of science and…