Bardugo’s Grishaverse is loosely inspired by 19th-century Europe, with the small but affluent country of Kerch modeled after the Netherlands. The 1800s were a time of significant change and growth for the Dutch. After the Netherlands’ defeat in the War of the First Coalition, France occupied the country from 1795 to 1813. King William I, who ruled the Netherlands from 1815 to 1840, revived the economy after France’s withdrawal; the newly formed Netherlands Trading Society oversaw long-distance trade, and England returned control of the East Indies (now Indonesia) to the Dutch. Cash crops from the colony represented a significant portion of the Netherlands’ wealth. The Dutch economy also benefited from the advantageous locations of port cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Although Ketterdam is fictional, the Netherlands’ history and geography influence the city’s distinctive identity. The city’s harbors provide the setting for key events, such as Kuwei’s escape to Ravka. Kerch is governed by the Merchant Council rather than a king, which emphasizes the importance of trade and commerce. Even the choice to fill Van Eck’s silos with sugar nods to Dutch history, as sugar was one of the most lucrative cash crops grown in the East Indies.