So strong was the Dutch love affair with tulips during the Dutch Golden Age of the mid-1600s that a tulip bulb bubble or "Tulip Mania" event occurred. Generally considered to be the first recorded financial bubble, the Tulip Mania of 1636-1637 was an episode in which tulip bulb prices were propelled by speculators to incredible heights before collapsing and plunging the Dutch economy into a severe crisis that lasted for many years. ~ The Dutch “Tulip Mania” Bubble (aka “Tulipomania”)

More information on the tulips' interesting history:
Market Crashes: The Tulip and Bulb Craze ~ http://www.investopedia.com/features/crashes/crashes2.asp