This film is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas Pere and set in Holland in 1672. The wealthy but naïve Cornelius Van Baerle spends his time cultivating tulips, ignorant of the fact that his godfather, Cornelius De Witte, was murdered for having supported Louis XIV when most of the Dutch support William of Orange. Cornelius is also unaware of the fact that his success in growing a unique black tulip has created an enemy # his neighbor Isaac Boxtel, another tulip fancier. Boxtel alerts the authorities that Cornelius is connected with political dissidents and the poor fellow is arrested, though he manages to hide the black tulip bulb in his pocket before being thrown in jail. Cornelius becomes friends with Rosa, the daughter of the turnkey Gryphus. He gives her one of the three black tulip flowers, but Boxtel steals it…