The “Admirael van Enckhuisen”, sometimes spelled as ‘Enckhuysen’ or ‘Enckhuijsen’, was a tulip known colloquially as the ‘perfect beauty’.
This was a highly coveted tulip during the Tulipmania.
In the year 1636, amidst the Tulipmania – a time of unchecked speculation in tulip bulbs – a single “Admirael van Enckhuizen” fetched as much as fl.5,400 guilders. To put this into perspective, with fl.5.000 guilders you could purchase a luxurious property in the heart of Amsterdam at that time.
Enkhuizen, renowned for its thriving harbor, was a global leader in trade, art, and science during this period. It played a crucial role in the Tulipmania as one of the main trading hubs for tulip bulbs.
However, in February of 1637, this speculative trade abruptly came to an end, often referred to as ‘wind trade’. The tulip market collapsed, leaving many financially ruined. Despite this collapse, Enkhuizen continued to maintain its role as a prominent trading center for flower bulbs, a reputation the city has managed to uphold to this day.
The theme of the 99 NFT tulips for the “Admirael van Enkhuisen” reflects the maritime legacy of the port city of Enkhuizen with the theme ‘admiral’. The portrait of the “Admirael van Enkhuisen” from the ‘Ninetynine Tulips’ collection, serves as inspiration for the tulip NFTs in various art styles.
Ninetynine Tulips 