The European affinity, and Dutch especially, to tulips links to the Ottoman Empire, specifically the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Tulip was widely cultivated in the Imperial gardens, and during the artistic expansion of Suleyman's reign, incorporated into the Ottoman art decorating the Palace, mosques, and attires. The tulip defined the Ottoman imperialism and was embraced by the West as the form of height of luxury.
The subsequent increase in demand for tulips (i.e. luxuries) by European nobility led to speculative ventures, culminating in the famed Tulip bulb bubble in Amsterdam.