As the flowers grew in popularity, professional growers paid higher and higher prices for bulbs, and prices rose steadily. The price of rare bulbs continued to rise throughout 1636, but by November, the price of common bulbs also began to increase; soon
any tulip bulb could fetch hundreds of guilders. 2 By 1636, the tulip bulb became the fourth leading export product of the
Netherlands. Many individuals suddenly grew rich. According to Mackay's book, people rushed to the tulip marts one after the
other, like flies around a honeypot. Everyone believed that the passion for tulips would last forever and that the wealthy from
every part of the world would come to the Netherlands and nay whatever prices were asked
I