Though inherently synonymous with The Netherlands, the tulip has a richer history than one might expect, stretching far beyond the windmill-clad and canal-filled landscape of the northwestern European country.
The bell-shaped bloom has been in style since as early as 1000AD. Of the 120 varieties of tulips currently known to man, almost half originated in central Asia – coming into flower wonderfully in extreme weather conditions.
During the reign of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Sultan ordered for the continued cultivation of the tulip, which was subsequently used to decorate the lavish palace gardens. Indeed, the etymology of the word ‘tulip’ exemplifies this. Deriving from the Persian ‘dulband’ meaning ‘turban’, the tulip was named as such due to its uncanny resemblance to the head covering when in full bloom.
As such, you’ll often find tulip blooms hidden in the kaleidoscopic designs of Persian rugs, which some professional gardeners and landscapers have since attempted to replicate in planting patterns – such as in Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire.
In the lead-up to and during the Dutch Golden Age, Holland was transformed by what has since been dubbed ‘Tulipomania’. This led to our historical association of the transformative posie with our friends across the Channel.
According to the National Trust, in the early 17th century, artists from the Low Countries – The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – were among the first to produce paintings solely depicting flowers, tulips included. Just think of Jan Davidsz. de Heem’s ‘Still life with flowers in a glass vase’ (1650), which is currently on display at the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam.
Centuries on, the tulip continues to reign supreme in the world of horticulture, serving as an aesthetically pleasing, decorative bloom for both indoor and outdoor spaces. In the spirit of all things Holland-related, we’ve curated an edit of the best vases for tulips which embody the untranslatable popular Dutch adjective, ‘gezellig’.
A word which can sometimes mean ‘cosy’, ‘quaint’ or ‘inviting’, and other times ‘convivial’, ‘fun’ or ‘togetherness’ – whichever way you use it, keep scrolling for a round-up of the most gezellig vases for your beautiful tulips.
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HAY Juice Wide striped glass vase 22cm
This candy-striped glass vase from the emerging Danish design brand HAY looks good enough to eat. Sitting 22cm tall and equipped with a wide mouth, this kitschy piece will emphasise the beauty of your blooms.
Buy now £185.00, Selfridges
Oval glass vase
A unique shape compared to most traditional tulip vases, this oval art deco-inspired piece showcases your posies in a horizontal line – allowing you to admire each and every unique bud in your bouquet with ease.
Buy now £17.99, H&M
Vaiselle Drink Me Gingham Jug
Embrace the gingham trend with this multipurpose ceramic piece from Vasielle. Whether used for tulips or as a pitcher for your favourite summer beverage, the wide-mouth opening, and easy-grab handle make this home accessory as practical as it is beautiful.
Buy now £85.00, Liberty
Seletti Crystalbootie glass vase 28cm
The jaw-dropping lovechild of a collaboration between Seletti and Diesel, the Crystalbootie glass vase is a must-have heirloom piece. With enough height to house the tallest of tulips, this glass cowboy boot certainly won’t be left behind when the clock strikes midnight.
Buy now £155.00, Selfridges
Tall Amber Glass Vase
Seventies-inspired interiors are all the rage within the design world, and what better way to complete your vintage aesthetic than with an amber-hued glass vase for your tulips? The combination of geometric ridges and soft curves is reminiscent of the mid-century modern designs which were – however confusingly – also popular during the 1970s.
Buy now £12.00, Dunelm
Stories of Italy Macchia Murano glass vase 15cm
Crafted from 100 per cent Murano glass, this delicate yet eye-catching piece makes a fantastic addition to spaces which embrace eclectic and maximalist styles.
Buy now £245.00, Selfridges
Elements Sculpt Two Tone Orange Glass Vase
This ingenious, value-for-money piece of home décor can be flipped like an hourglass depending on the size of the stems you’re looking to house. When it comes to tulips, we recommend going for the taller amber side of this lovely two-tone contemporary vase.
Buy now £20.00, Dunelm
Les Ottomans Ceramic Lemon Head Vase
When life gives you lemons...celebrate the true historical origins of the tulip with this quirky ceramic vase from Turkish design brand Les Ottomans.
Buy now £210.00, Anthropologie
Littala Aalto glass vase 22cm
We adore the delicately curved edges of this showstopping piece. Designed by Alvar Aalto and inspired by the natural beauty of his native country, Finland, this stunning vase was first introduced to Littala in 1936.
Buy now £150.00, Selfridges
Ferm Living Vase Moire ceramic white 30cm
Created using an innovative clay 3D printing process, this undulating, oval-shaped vase creates quite the optical illusion. Designed by Trine Andersen for Ferm Living, we couldn’t think of a more unique home accessory to accentuate your blooms.
Buy now £106.25, Made in Design
Spode Blue Italian Hexagonal Vase
An option for those with a love for the British countryside aesthetic, this 100 per cent porcelain and wonderfully pastoral vase from Stroud is the perfect shape for your favourite tulips, with its large hexagonal opening and whopping 27cm of height.
Buy now £49.00, Harts of Stur
