The Tulip. a national symbol of The Netherlands, irrevocably connected to Amsterdam and a much seen gift for tourists. Most people know that the tulip originated not in Amsterdam, but was imported from Turkey. Even fewer people know that the tulip is native to Central-Asia and only later in the middle ages made his was to Turkey and, eventually Holland. Only a handful visitors to the Hortus in Leyden are aware that is was the first director of this institute, Carolus Clusius, that made the tulip to what it is today.