Favourable political measures taken by the Grand Dukes of Tuscany regarding the port of Livorno created an ideal distribution centre on the Mediterranean. Among... » 

Favourable political measures taken by the Grand Dukes of Tuscany regarding the port of Livorno created an ideal distribution centre on the Mediterranean. Among the many foreign merchants settling in the city from 1600 onwards, the 'Flemish' community played a prominent role. The Dutch had a large merchant fleet involved in the intra-European trade at their disposal, and their operating costs were relatively low. As a result, they could offer highly competitive freight rates. Based on various Tuscan, Genoese and Dutch sources Marie-Christine Engels offers an accurate account of the activities of Dutch merchants and seamen in Livorno and Genoa. The shipping of luxury goods was extensive, but not necessarily the pivot of Dutch commercial activities. Shipping and trade of grain and other bulk products, such as fish, remained lucrative. Because risks were high on the Mediterranean, the merchants invested not only in transport and trade, but also in ships, banking and other business. The second part of the «