As the Middle Ages gave way to the Renaissance, Flemish musicians were the most admired in Europe. Many of the region’s finest singers and composers were recruited to work for the powerful Habsburgs, while others found their way to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. As the 16th century progressed, the Low Countries continued to flourish as a centre of cultural creativity. Its booming trading ports, not least Antwerp with its famous printing industry, and rich cities such as Amsterdam, renowned for religious tolerance, proved fertile ground for both home-grown and foreign musical talent.