Dutch gulden
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| Dutch gulden Nederlandse gulden (Dutch) |
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| ISO 4217 Code | NLG | ||||
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| User(s) | The Netherlands | ||||
| Inflation | 2.6% | ||||
| Source | worldpress.org, 2000 est. | ||||
| ERM | |||||
| Since | 13 March 1979 | ||||
| Fixed rate since | 31 December 1998 | ||||
| Replaced by €, non cash | 1 January 1999 | ||||
| Replaced by €, cash | 1 January 2002 | ||||
| € = | ƒ2.20371 | ||||
| Subunit | |||||
| 1/100 | cent | ||||
| Symbol | ƒ or fl. | ||||
| Plural | gulden | ||||
| cent | cent | ||||
| Coins | |||||
| Freq. used | 5 ct., 10 ct., 25 ct., ƒ1, ƒ2½, ƒ5 | ||||
| Rarely used | 1 ct. {withdrawn 1 March 1983) | ||||
| Banknotes | ƒ10, ƒ25, ƒ50, ƒ100, ƒ250, ƒ1000 | ||||
| Central bank | De Nederlandsche Bank | ||||
| Website | www.dnb.nl | ||||
| Printer | Joh. Enschedé | ||||
| Website | www.joh-enschede.nl | ||||
| Mint | Royal Dutch Mint | ||||
| Website | www.knm.nl | ||||
| This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. | |||||
The gulden (usually called guilder in English), represented by the symbol ƒ or fl., was the currency of the Netherlands from the 13th century until 2002, when it was replaced by the euro. Between 1999 and 2002, the gulden was officially a "national subunit" of the euro. However, physical payments could only be made in gulden, as no euro coins and notes were available. Gulden are still in use in the Netherlands Antilles, a Dutch dependency, although this currency is distinct from the Dutch gulden. In 2004, the Surinamese gulden was replaced by the Surinamese dollar.
The name "gulden" was derived from "gouden" (golden) or "verguld" (gilded). The symbol ƒ or fl. for the Dutch gulden was derived from another old currency, the florijn.
The exact exchange rate, still relevant for old contracts and for exchange of the legacy currency for euros at the central bank, is 2.20371 Dutch gulden (NLG) for 1 euro (EUR). Inverted, this gives EUR 0.453780 for NLG 1.
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[edit] History
In the Netherlands, both gold and silver gulden coins were issued. In 1581, the silver gulden was established as the currency of the United Netherlands by the Estates-General.[1] It was divided into 20 stuiver, each of 8 duit or 16 penning. At various times, other coins derived from the guilder emerged. Among them were the daalder of 1½ gulden (30 stuiver), the rijksdaalder (silver ducat) of 2½ gulden (50 stuiver) and the ducaton (silver rider) of 3 gulden (60 stuiver). The name daalder was derived from the German thaler.
Between 1810 and 1814, the Netherlands was annexed to France and the franc circulated. Following the Napoleonic wars, the Netherlands readopted the gulden and, in 1817, decimalized, with one gulden equal to 100 cents. However, it was not until the 1840s that the last pre-decimal coins (many of which dated back to the 17th century) were withdrawn from circulation, whilst some of the new, decimal coins continued to bear nicknames based on their values in the older currency system through to the 21st century. Until 1948, the plural of cent used on coins was cents, after that it was cent.
The Netherlands was initially on a bimetallic standard, with the gulden equal to 605.61 milligrams of fine gold or 9.615 grams of fine silver. In 1840, the silver standard was adjusted to 9.45 grams, with the gold standard suspended in 1848. In 1875, the Netherlands adopted a gold standard with 1 gulden equal to 604.8 milligrams of fine gold. The gold standard was suspended between 1914 and 1925 and was abandoned in 1936.[2]
Following the German occupation, on May 10, 1940, the gulden was pegged to the Reichsmark at a rate of 1.5 gulden = 1 Reichsmark. This rate was reduced to 1.327 on July 17 of the same year. The liberating Allied forces set an exchange rate of 2.652 gulden = 1 U.S. dollar, which became the peg for the gulden within the Bretton Woods system. In 1949, the peg was changed to 3.8 gulden = 1 dollar, approximately matching the devaluation of the British pound. In 1961, the gulden was revalued to 3.62 gulden = 1 dollar, a change approximately in line with that of the Deutsche Mark.
In 2002 the Gulden was replaced by the euro. Coins remained exchangeable for euros at branches of the Netherlands Central Bank until 1 January 2007. Banknotes valid at the time of conversion to the euro may still be exchanged there until 1 January 2032.
[edit] Coins
In the 18th century, coins were issued by the various provinces. There were copper 1 duit, silver 1, 2, 6 and 10 stuiver, 1 and 3 gulden, ½ and 1 rijksdaalder and ½ and 1 ducaton. Gold 1 and 2 ducat trade coins were also minted. Between 1795 and 1806, the Batavian Republic issued coins in similar denominations to the earlier provincial issues. The Kingdom of Holland minted silver 10 stuiver, 1 florin and 1 gulden (equivalent), 50 stuivers and 2½ gulden (also equivalent) and 1 rijksdaalder, along with gold 10 and 20 gulden. Before decimalization, the Kingdom of the Netherlands briefly issued some 1 rijksdaalder coins.
In 1817, the first coins of the decimal currency were issued, the copper 1 cent and silver 3 gulden. The remaining denominations were introduced in 1818. These were copper ½ cent, silver 5, 10 and 25 cents, ½ and 1 gulden, and gold 10 gulden. In 1826, gold 5 gulden coins were introduced.
In 1840, the silver content of the coinage was reduced (see above) and this was marked by the replacement of the 3 gulden coin by a 2½ gulden piece. The gold coinage was completely suspended in 1853, five years after the suspension of the gold standard. By 1874, production of silver coins greater in value than 10 cents had ceased, to be only fully resumed in the 1890s. Gold 10 gulden coins were struck again from 1875. In 1877, bronze 2½ cents coins were introduced. In 1907, silver 5 cents coins were replaced by cupro-nickel pieces. In 1912, gold 5 gulden coins were reintroduced but the gold coinage was ended in 1933.
In 1941, following the German occupation, production of all earlier coin types ceased and zinc coins were introduced for 1, 2½, 5, 10 and 25 cents. Large quantities of pre-war type, silver 10 and 25 cents and 1 gulden coins were minted in the U.S.A. between 1943 and 1945 for use following liberation.
In 1948, bronze 1 and 5 cent and nickel 10 and 25 cent were introduced (note the new spelling of the plural). These were followed by reduced size, silver 1 and 2½ gulden in 1954. Nickel 1 and 2½ gulden coins were introduced in 1967 and 1969, respectively. In 1983, the 1 cent coin was demonetized whilst bronze clad nickel 5 gulden coins were introduced in 1987.
At the time of withdrawal, the following denominations of coins were circulating:
- 5 cent - stuiver
- 10 cent - dubbeltje ("doubler" - because was two stuivers)
- 25 cent - kwartje ("quarter")
- 1 gulden - gulden, piek
- 2½ gulden - rijksdaalder, colloquially riks or knaak
- 5 gulden - vijfje ("fiver")
All the coins carried a profile image of the Queen on the obverse and a simple grid on the other side. The 1 gulden coin had 'God zij met ons' ('God be with us') inscribed on the edge.
[edit] Banknotes
Between 1814 and 1838, the Netherlands Bank issued notes in denominations of 25, 40, 60, 80, 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1000 gulden. These were followed, from 1846 by state notes (muntbiljeten) in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 gulden, with the 10 and 50 gulden issued until 1914.
In 1904, the Netherlands Bank recomenced the issuance of paper money. By 1911, it was issuing notes for 10, 25, 40, 60, 100, 200, 300 and 1000 gulden. In 1914, the government introduced silver notes (zilverbonnen) for 1, 2½ and 5 gulden. Although the 5 gulden were only issued that year, the 1 gulden notes continued until 1920 and the 2½ gulden until 1927.
In 1926, the Netherlands Bank introduced 20 gulden notes, followed by 50 gulden in 1929 and 500 gulden in 1930. These introductions followed the cessation of production of the unusual 40, 60 and 300 gulden notes during the 1920s.
In 1938, silver notes were reintroduced for 1 and 2½ gulden. During the Second World War, the Netherlands Bank continued to issue paper money, although there were some desingn changes, most notably, the replacement of a portrait of Queen Emma by a Rembrant portrait on the 10 gulden note. The Allies printed state notes dated 1943 for use following liberation. These were in denominations of 1, 2½, 10, 25, 50 and 100 gulden. More state notes were issued for 1 and 2½ gulden in 1945 and 1949.
Following the war, the Netherlands Bank introduced notes for 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 1000 gulden. The last 20 gulden notes were dated 1955, whilst 5 gulden notes were introduced in 1966 (replaced by coins in 1987) and 250 gulden in 1985.
At the time of withdrawal, the following denominations of banknotes were circulating:
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- ƒ10 - tientje, joet
- ƒ25 - geeltje
- ƒ50 - zonnebloem (sunflower)
- ƒ100 - honderdje, meier / later: snip (common Snipe)
- ƒ250 - vuurtoren (lighthouse)
- ƒ1000 - duizendje, (rooie) rug / rooi(tj)e
At the time of withdrawal, all but the 50 and 250 gulden notes had been issued in a new series that was the same colour as the older, long-serving notes but with a mostly abstract pattern, featuring a different bird for each denomination.
Persons depicted on older banknotes were:
- ƒ5 - poet Joost van den Vondel (until 1988, when the note was replaced by a ƒ 5 coin)
- ƒ10 - painter Frans Hals
- ƒ25 - composer Jan Petersz. Sweelinck
- ƒ100 - admiral Michiel de Ruyter (This being the most profitable note to counterfeit it was first replaced by a note featuring the common snipe. This note was of a similar design as the newly introduced 50 and 250 gulden notes; and was again replaced by an abstract design in the last series of gulden notes)
- ƒ1000 - philosopher Baruch d'Spinoza
These 1970s "face"-notes and the 80's ƒ50 (sunflower), ƒ100 (snipe) and ƒ250 (lighthouse) were designed by R.D.E. Oxenaar. Eventually all faces were to be replaced by abstracts, designed by Jaap Drupsteen, (see above).
[edit] Name in Chinese
The Chinese translation for "florin" and consequently "guilder" is "盾" (pinyin: dùn; literally shield). It originated from the translation referring to the British florin with its four shields in the 1849 design. This translation was then borrowed to refer similarly to the Dutch florin and guilder. As a result, currencies in the guilder-based Aruba and Netherlands Antilles are still referred to as "盾".
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Images of banknotes of the Netherlands
- The Marteau Early 18th century Currency Converter with tools to convert early 18th century Dutch Guilders into the major contemporary European currencies.
- Overview of the Dutch guilder and its history from the BBC
| Preceded by ?, French franc (1794-1815, Southern Netherlands) |
Dutch currency 15th century-2002[1] 1815-1832 (Belgium) 1828-1940 (Netherlands Antilles) ?-1962 (Surinam) |
Succeeded by Belgian franc (1832, Belgium), Netherlands Antillean gulden (1940, Netherlands Antilles), Surinamese gulden (1962, Surinam), Euro |
- ^ 28 January 2002 by law, 2002 de facto
| Currencies named guilder, florin or similar | |
|---|---|
| Current | Aruban florin · Hungarian forint · Netherlands Antillean gulden · Polish złoty |
| Defunct | Austro-Hungarian gulden · British Guianan guilder · Danzig gulden · Dutch gulden · East African florin · Netherlands Indian gulden · Surinamese gulden · West New Guinean gulden |
| As a denomination | Baden Gulden · Bavarian Gulden · British florin · English florin · Irish florin · Italian florin · Lombardy-Venetia florin · South German Gulden · Tuscan fiorino · Württemberg Gulden |
