Scottish Staple

The Scottish Staple was a medieval and early modern trading system that required Scottish merchants to conduct foreign trade, particularly in goods like wool and hides, through designated staple ports—most notably in the Low Countries—to regulate commerce and secure royal revenues. It was a close equivalent to The Staple that ran in England.

Map of Veere, known in Scotland as Campvere, the staple port for Scotland between 1541 and 1799 Joan Blaeu, 1652

In the 15th century, Bruges was the Scottish staple^[1] port. As the harbour at Bruges silted up, the focus of Scots trade moved north to the Dutch ports of Middelburg and Veere, with Veere gaining staple status in 1541.^[2] There is some evidence of Dordrecht being used in 1670.^[3]