A few months after you have planted a bulb, a beautiful flower appears. How does this happen? What is a bulb composed of? What do you see when you cut a bulb in half? You can find the answers to these and other questions on the website of the International Bulb Centre (IBC): www.bulbsonline.org, especially on the page ‘colourful bulbs’.

What is a bulb
The tulip has always topped the list of favourite bulbs, and ranks third in the list of cut flowers, after the mixed bouquet and the rose. The tulip is also a great favourite in the garden and makes up one-third of all bulb exports. More »

History of Tulipomania
The Netherlands, 1637. Horticultural experiments were creating many new varieties of tulips that were being well received, particularly by the affluent. As large numbers of people bought the new tulip varieties, dealers seized the opportunity. They sold the bulbs by weight for high prices... More »

Market
The agricultural sector has always been important in the Netherlands. During the twentieth century the importance of the horticultural sector also increased, with bulbs and bulb cultivation playing an important role. More »

Product Innovation
The flower bulb sector continues its development of new products and processes. Good examples are the rapid emergence of hydroponic forcing methods in forcing tulip bulbs for cut flower production and the forcing of flower bulbs in pots for instant results. More »

Trends
Trends are not thought up or made, they evolve, the result of developments in a particular time period. All kinds of influences play a role, such as the economy, technology, politics, culture, the environment and social developments. More »