Profumo dei Profumi

The Flemish painter Jan Frans van Dael, the creator of this exquisite still life from 1792, must have been very fond of pineapples, as he loved to depict them in many of his works of this genre.

Indeed, the exotic charm of the pineapple — or "scent of scents" in the original Amerindian —seems to have found one of its first chosen grounds in the Netherlands. The very sweet "Fruit of Kings" was difficult to import and even more difficult to cultivate in European climates, so much so that during the 17th century, it became a true status symbol, as only the wealthiest could display it on their tables.

The first cultivation of pineapples in the Netherlands is attributed to Agneta Block, one of the greatest Dutch botanical scholars. A beautiful painting by Jan Weenix from 1694 commemorates her success, depicting her happily in her summer estate of Vijverhof, "Flora Batava," along with her family and her precious plants.

Today, Flora Batava hosts a hotel whose symbol could only be... a pineapple!