History tells us that the hardy, spring-flowering tulip, long popular for its cup-shaped, richly colored blossoms, is an Old World plant that was introduced into Western Europe from Turkey well over 400 years ago.
A Flemish nobleman by the name of Ghislain de Busbecq, accredited by the Hapsburg Austrian government, was held as a political prisoner by Turkish authorities in the mid-1500s. During his imprisonment he observed and admired the beautiful “Tulipans” that grew in the land of his captors. When the gentleman was released in 1560 he took with him on his return by Mail Coach to Western Europe some of the small bulbs, hoping they would flourish in the low countries. The fruits of his efforts continue to be appreciated around the world!
Four hundred years later in 1960 this historic Mail Coach tulip delivery was reenacted under the sponsorship of the Dutch bulb growers and two commercial firms. Accepting the modern but nonetheless extremely difficult challenge and responsibility for making the 3,500 kilometer Mail Coach journey from Istanbul to Rotterdam was Mr. Joop van der Touw, now of Den Haag, Holland, and a foremost member of the Dutch horse world.
In 1960 the transport business of Messrs. P. van der Touw & Sons owned 40 hard-working Dutch horses, used chiefly on the streets of the city of The Hague to deliver meat to butchers. Mr. van der Touw selected 10 of these fine horses for the journey that was to turn back the pages of coaching and horticultural history alike.
Freight trucks of the van der Touw & Sons firm transported the horses, food and dismounted Mail Coach, built by Holland & Holland, Ltd., London, to Istanbul. Manpower for the ambitious undertaking totaled 18, with Mr. van der Touw, in the role of Mr. de Busbecq, wearing traditional dress as were his assistant drivers.
The voyage to Istanbul in preparation for the significant return trip was made in five days and nights. The horses were taken out of the trucks at regular intervals along the way to keep them in good condition.
On March 30, after a three-day rest in Istanbul, where, unfortunately, one of the horses died, the Mail Coach set out for Rotterdam. About 300,000 people crowded the streets to witness the departure. Plans called for reaching their destination in 39 days, and to do so, the Coach would have to cover nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) a day!
Alternately, depending on the condition of the roads, the Coach was driven by two or four horses. The remaining horses were taken by truck to designated “points of exchange,” where two or four of them were substituted for the tired ones. Although it now seems practically impossible, it was nevertheless true that the average sleeping time for the crew was only four hours.
On the caravan drove…through Turkey, Greece and Yugoslavia. In Belgrade the press reported that about half a million people saw the Coach reach their city. Crossing the Alps in Austria, Mr. von der Touw drove into Germany and then Holland.
On May 6, 1960, the exact date established at the outset, 9 Dutch horses, an old Mail Coach and 18 tired and very luck men reached Rotterdam. Joop ver der Touw had proved beyond any shadow of doubt the capabilities of the Dutch horse!
Is it difficult to cross Europe by Mail Coach? Mr. van der Touw answers the question with an economy of words. Upon his arrival in Rotterdam on that May 6th some 10 years ago, he was asked by reporters if he would make such a trip again. “Not for 1,000,000 guilders,” replied Joop ver Der Touq.
Compiled by Mrs. Barbara Bouer from material supplied by Mr. Joop van der Touw. Published in The Carriage Journal, Winter 1970, Vol. 8, No. 3.
