Netherlands Banknotes Catalog

The history of banknotes in the Netherlands is fascinating and reflects the economic and cultural evolution of the country. From their first issues until the adoption of the euro, Dutch banknotes have undergone numerous changes in design and denomination.

Old banknotes of the Netherlands

The first Dutch banknotes were issued by the Bank of Amsterdam in the 17th century. However, it was not until 1814 that the Nederlandsche Bank was established and became the official banknote issuer. Over the years, Dutch guilder banknotes featured various designs, including the famous 1950 series with portraits of historical figures such as Rembrandt van Rijn and Michiel de Ruyter. An important milestone was the introduction of the 1000 guilder bill in 1972, which featured a portrait of the philosopher Baruch Spinoza.

Current banknotes and the changeover to the euro

In 2002, the Netherlands adopted the euro as its official currency, replacing the guilder. Euro banknotes in circulation are common throughout the eurozone and feature designs of bridges, windows and doors representative of different European architectural periods. Although the Netherlands no longer issues its own national currency, the European Central Bank allows each member country to customize one side of the euro coins. In the Dutch case, these have featured the portrait of King Willem-Alexander since 2014, replacing the previous design with the effigy of Queen Beatrix.