View source for Dutch guilder

{{short description|Currency of the Netherlands from 1434 to 2002}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{Infobox currency
| local_name = Nederlandse gulden
| local_name_lang = nl
| name_abbr = fl.
| image_1 = 1.000 Gulden (1994) - Vorderseite.jpg
| image_title_1 = Last series of guilder banknotes
| inflation_rate = 2.6% (December 2000)
| inflation_source_date = [http://www.worldpress.org/profiles/Netherlands,_the.cfm worldpress.org], 2000 est.
| iso_code = NLG
| using_countries = None, previously:
<br />{{flagcountry|Netherlands}} ''{{small|(until 2002)}}''<br />{{flagcountry|Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands)}} ''{{small|(until 1962)}}''<br />{{flagcountry|Netherlands Antilles|1959}} ''{{small|(until 1940)}}''<br /> {{flagcountry|Luxembourg}} ''{{small|(until 1839)}}''<br /> {{flagcountry|Belgium}} ''{{small|(until 1832)}}''
| ERM_since = 13 March 1979
| ERM_fixed_rate_since = 31 December 1998
| euro_replace_non_cash = 1 January 1999
| euro_replace_cash = 1 March 2002
| ERM_fixed_rate = ƒ2.20371
| unit = guilder
| subunit_ratio_1 = {{frac|1|100}}
| subunit_name_1 = [[Cent (currency)|cent]]
| symbol = [[Florin sign|ƒ]]
| plural = guilders
| plural_subunit_1 = cents
| frequently_used_coins = 5c, 10c, 25c, ƒ1, ƒ{{frac|2|1|2}}, ƒ5
| rarely_used_coins = 1c (withdrawn 1 March 1983), {{frac|1|2}}c, {{frac|2|1|2}}c (withdrawn 1948), 50c (withdrawn 1930)
| frequently_used_banknotes = ƒ10, ƒ25, ƒ50, ƒ100, ƒ250
| rarely_used_banknotes = ƒ5 (withdrawn in 1995), ƒ1000
| banknote_article = Banknotes of the Dutch guilder
| issuing_authority = [[De Nederlandsche Bank]]
| issuing_authority_website = {{URL|www.dnb.nl}}
| printer = [[Joh. Enschedé]]
| printer_website = {{URL|www.joh-enschede.nl}}
| mint = [[Royal Dutch Mint]]
| mint_website = {{URL|www.knm.nl}}
| obsolete = yes
}}
The '''guilder''' ({{lang-nl|gulden}}, {{IPA|nl|ˈɣʏldə(n)|pron|Nl-gulden.ogg}}) or '''florin''' was the [[currency]] of the [[Netherlands]] from 1434 until 2002, when it was replaced by the [[euro]].

The Dutch name {{lang|nl|gulden}} was a [[Middle Dutch]] [[adjective]] meaning 'golden',<ref>J. Verdam, ''Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek'', The Hague 1932 (reprint of 1994). In modern Dutch, the adjective still exists in certain fossilised forms such as {{lang|nl|het Gulden Vlies}} ('the [[Golden Fleece]]'). The modern equivalent is {{lang|nl|gouden}}.</ref> and reflects the fact that, when first introduced in 1434, its value was about equal to (i.e., it was on par with) the [[Florin (Italian coin)|Italian gold florin]]. The Dutch guilder was a {{lang|la|de facto}} [[reserve currency]] in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.<ref name="The Euro at Ten">{{cite book|title=The Euro at Ten: The Next Global Currency |first1=Jean |last1=Pisani-Ferry |first2=Adam S. |last2=Posen |publisher=Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economies & Brueggel|date=2009 |location=United States of America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkPgWhcYCg8C|isbn=9780881325584 }}</ref><ref>[http://dspace.uni.lodz.pl:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11089/410/5-14.pdf?sequence=1 The euro as a reserve currency] ''lodz.pl''</ref><ref>[https://www.principles.com/the-changing-world-order The Changing World Order], [[Ray Dalio]]</ref>

Between 1999 and 2002, the [[guilder]] was officially a "national subunit" of the euro. However, physical payments could only be made in guilders, as no euro coins or banknotes were available. The exact exchange rate, still relevant for old contracts and for exchange of the old currency for euros at the central bank, is 2.20371 Dutch guilders for 1 euro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnb.nl/en/payments/exchanging-guilders/rules-for-exchanging-guilder-notes/|publisher=[[De Nederlandsche Bank]]|title=Rules for exchanging guilder notes|access-date=31 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112040145/http://www.dnb.nl/en/payments/exchanging-guilders/rules-for-exchanging-guilder-notes/|archive-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> Inverted, this gives 0.453780 euros for 1 guilder.

Derived from the Dutch guilder are the [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] (still in use in [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]]) and the [[Surinamese guilder]] (replaced in 2004 by the [[Surinamese dollar]]).

==History==
The {{lang|nl|gulden}} emerged as the official currency of the [[Burgundian Netherlands]] after the 1434 monetary reform done under [[Philip the Good]].<ref name="origin" /><ref name="stuiver" /> This table summarizes the gulden's value in terms of silver until the [[gold standard]] was introduced in 1875.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Value of gulden, grams
|-
! Year !! g silver
|-
| 1434-66 || 32.60
|-
| 1500-60 || 19.07
|-
| 1618 || 10.16
|-
| 1659-1800 || 9.67
|-
| (Gulden banco) || 10.15
|-
| 1840 || 9.45
|-
| 1875 || 0.6048 g gold
|}
Prior to 1434 the Dutch issued currency conforming to the [[French franc#History|Carolingian monetary system]], with a pound divided into 20 [[Solidus (coin)#France|shillings]] and a shilling divided into 12 [[French denier|pennies]]. Dutch versions of the [[French denier|penny]] first came out in the 9th century, followed by local versions of the one-shilling [[:fr:Gros tournois|''gros tournois'']] in the 13th century. The most notable version of the latter, the Flemish {{lang|nl|grote}}, subsequently depreciated faster than its counterparts in France, from its initial fine silver content of 4.044 g, to around 2.5 g by 1350 AD, and to just 0.815 g before the reforms of 1434.<ref>https://www.economics.utoronto.ca/wwwfiles/archives/munro5/JaarboekGuildsGovt.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

===1434–66, Burgundian Netherlands===
[[File:Vierlander.jpg|thumb|right|[[:nl:Vierlander|Vierlander]] stuiver of Philip the Good]]
[[Philip the Good]] devised a monetary system in 1434 relating the new Dutch currency to that of its neighbors: the French [[French franc#History|livre parisis]] of 38.25 g silver, and the English [[pound sterling#History|pound sterling]] of 215.8 g.<ref>[[:nl:Vierlander]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=July 2021}}<ref name="origin">p 20: With monetary unification in 1435, the florin or gulden money-of-account thus worth 40d. Flemish gros. Stuiver = 2d. Flemish... The gulden money-of-account is tied to the pond groot, always worth 40 Flemish gros. https://www.economics.utoronto.ca/munro5/MONEYLEC.pdf</ref> The following units were defined:
* The {{lang|nl|[[Stuiver]]}} of 1.63 g fine silver, equal to 2 Flemish grote or 3 Brabant grote, and approximately equal to the French {{lang|fr|sol}} (shilling) of 1.9125 g;
* The {{lang|nl|Gulden}}, equal to 20 stuiver or 32.6 g fine silver, and approximately equal to the French {{lang|fr|[[French franc#History|livre parisis]]}}. As the French gold livre was about par with the gold [[florin]] of 3.5 g, this new denomination was therefore known as the {{lang|nl|gouden florijn}}, or gulden, or florin.
* The Shilling Flemish ({{lang|nl|Schelling Vlaams}}), equal to 12 Flemish grote or 6 stuivers, and approximately equal to the [[Shilling (English coin)|English shilling]] of 12 pence sterling.
* And finally, the Pound Flemish ({{lang|nl|Pond Vlaams}}), equal to 240 Flemish grote or 6 Gulden, and at 195.6 g fine silver was approximately equal to the English [[pound sterling#History|pound sterling]].

The {{lang|nl|stuiver}} weighed 3.4 g of {{frac|23|48}} silver fineness<ref name="stuiver">Stuiver weighs 3,4 g and has a fineness of 479/1000 silver... in 4 silver coins: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 vierlander. http://www.nbbmuseum.be/en/2008/01/the-vierlander.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512195833/http://www.nbbmuseum.be/en/2008/01/the-vierlander.htm |date=2021-05-12 }}</ref> and was divided into 8 {{lang|nl|[[duit]]en}} or 16 {{lang|nl|penningen}}. As each stuiver was worth approximately 2 English pence, Dutch silver denominations of 1 duit and {{frac|1|4}}, {{frac|1|2}}, 1 & 2 stuivers neatly matched with English denominations of {{frac|1|4}}, {{frac|1|2}}, 1, 2 & 4 pence sterling.

French [[écu]]s, [[Noble (English coin)|English nobles]] & Dutch florins comprised the gold currency of the Low Countries and had a variable rate against the stuiver. A denomination worth 1 Gulden did not exist until the 1464 issue of the {{lang|nl|Sint Andries florin}} containing 2.735 g of fine gold, but this was a mere two years before the resumption of debasements in the stuiver.

===1500–60, Spanish Netherlands===
[[File:Medieval_coin;_double_petard_of_Charles_the_Bold_(FindID_191518).jpg|thumb|left|This Burgundian {{lang|fr|double patard}} (or 2-{{lang|nl|[[stuiver]]}}) found in England was current there for four [[Penny (English coin)|English pence]] from 1469 to 1475.]]

The [[stuiver]] modestly depreciated between 1466 and 1475 before incurring more significant debasements up to the end of the 15th century. From 1469 to 1475 an agreement with England made the English groat (4-[[Penny (English coin)|pence]]; 2.88 g fine silver) mutually exchangeable with the Burgundian {{lang|fr|double patard}} (or 2-{{lang|nl|stuiver}}) minted under [[Charles the Rash]].<ref name="foreign coins">p113 https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1963_BNJ_33_18.pdf</ref>

Follow-up attempts to issue 1-gulden coins resulted in the minting of the gold Karolusgulden of 1.77 g fine gold in 1520, and the silver Karolusgulden of 19.07 grams fine silver in 1541. The bullion content of French and English currencies would eventually approach this value, with the French livre parisis becoming 20.4 g fine silver in 1549, and {{frac|1|6}}th of a [[pound sterling]] (3 shillings and 4 pence) becoming 19.2 g fine silver in 1551.

===1618, Dutch Republic===
[[File:Rijksdaalder-1622-obverse.gif|thumb|right|Rijksdaalder of the Dutch Republic, 1622]]
{{See also|Thaler#Dutch republic|:nl:Categorie:Nederlandse_munt}}
The pace of depreciation of the Gulden quickened in the second half of the 16th century amidst the huge influx of precious metals from Germany & Spanish America arriving through the [[Habsburg Netherlands]].

The loss in silver content of local Dutch coins in the form of {{lang|nl|stuivers}}, [[:nl:Schelling|''schellings'']] (6 stuivers) and [[:nl:Daalder|''daalders'']] ({{frac|1|1|2}} gulden or 30 stuivers) was the result of different provinces continually testing the market with coins of slightly reduced silver, aiming for their acceptance at par with full-bodied coins. As the Northern [[Dutch Republic]] just declared its independence from the Spanish crown, there was no central authority powerful enough to penalize the provinces responsible for the deterioration of the quality of Dutch currency. The inevitable official acceptance of new, debased rates for the gulden only set the stage for the next round of depreciations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Quinn |first=Stephen |date=2005 |title=The big problem of large bills: The Bank of Amsterdam and the origins of central banking |url=https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/101021/1/wp0516.pdf |journal= |hdl=10419/101021}}</ref>

As a result, the gulden equivalent of different trade coins passing through the Low Countries also rose in value, as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrJCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA356|title=The History of Currency, 1252-1894: Being an Account of the Gold and Silver Moneys and Monetary Standards of Europe and America, Together with an Examination of the Effects of Currency and Exchange Phenomena on Commercial and National Progress and Well-being|last1=Shaw|first1=William Arthur|year=1896}}</ref>
* The German {{lang|de|[[Reichsthaler]]}} of 25.98 g fine silver was valued at 32 stuivers (1.6G) in 1566.
* The Dutch Republic's [[:nl:Leeuwendaalder|''leeuwendaalder'']] (Lion dollar) of 20.57g fine silver was valued at 32 stuivers (1.6G) in 1575.
* The Dutch Republic's [[Dutch Rijksdaalder|''Rijksdaalder'']] of 25.40 g fine silver, a local version of the German reichsthaler, was valued at 42 stuivers (2.1G) in 1583, and repeatedly raised in value until it reached 50 stuivers (2.5G) in 1618 - hence, 10.16 g silver in a gulden.
* The [[Spanish Netherlands]]' [[:nl:Patagon|''patagon'']] or Albertus thaler of 24.56 g fine silver, valued at 8 shillings Flemish (48 stuivers, 2.4G) in 1618.
* The Spanish Netherlands' ducaton of 30.70 g fine silver, valued at 10 shillings Flemish (60 stuivers, 3G) in 1618.

The solution which immediately halted the downward spiral of the gulden was the establishment of the [[Bank of Amsterdam|Amsterdam Wisselbank]] (Bank of Amsterdam) in 1609, mandated to accept & assay the bullion content of coins received from its depositors, and then to credit the equivalent of 1 Rijksdaalder ({{frac|2|1|2}} gulden after 1618) for each 25.40 g fine silver actually received. Combined with rules requiring payments above 600 gulden to be cleared through the bank, it halted incentives for provinces to tamper with the silver content of its coins.

In 1626, Pieter Schaghen wrote in Dutch of the purchase of "the Island Manhattes" ([[Manhattan]]) "from the Indians for the value of 60 guilders."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/newnetherland/schaghentrans.htm|title=Pieter Schaghen's 1626 letter: New Netherland Research Center: New York State Library|website=www.nysl.nysed.gov|access-date=2019-08-02|archive-date=2019-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802193613/http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/newnetherland/schaghentrans.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1659, Gulden currency & banco===
[[File:Utrecht Ducaton 82001327.jpg|thumb|right|Silver rider Ducaton of the Dutch Republic]]
[[File:3 gulder Utrech - 1795.png|thumb|[[Silver coin]]: 3 gulden [[Utrecht]], Dutch Republic - 1795<ref>3 Gulden Utrecht, Year: 1763 - 1794; Composition: Silver - 92%; Weight: 31,82 gram; Diameter: 41 mm - https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces47591.html</ref>]]
{{See also|Economic history of the Netherlands (1500–1815)|Financial history of the Dutch Republic|Bank of Amsterdam}}
Even with the [[Bank of Amsterdam]]'s success in halting the depreciation of Dutch currency, attempts to further increase the stuiver equivalent of trade coins continued among the provinces. After the 1630s came moves to raise the Patagon's value from 48 to 50 stuivers (4.17% advance), followed by moves to raise the Ducaton's value from 60 to 63 stuivers (5.0% advance). Fearing damage to its Europe-wide reputation if 50-stuiver deposits in rixdollars were repaid in cheaper 50-stuiver patagons, in the 1640s the bank firmly rejected the advanced values of these coins and upheld its old values of 48 and 60 stuivers.

This was the origin of a permanent Gulden Banco valued at 5% more against provincial Gulden currency valuations. In 1659 the Dutch Republic made this duality permanent by issuing its own trade coins, namely:
* The Silver Ducat ({{lang|nl|Zilveren Dukaat}}; also called {{lang|nl|Rijksdaalder}}) of 24.36 g fine silver, replacing the Patagon and valued at 48 stuivers banco (2.4 GB) or 50 stuivers currency (2.5G).
* The [[ducaton|Silver Rider Ducaton]] of 30.45 g fine silver, replacing the Ducaton and valued at 60 stuivers banco (3 GB) or 63 stuivers currency (3.15G).

The result was a Gulden Banco unit of 10.15 g silver & a Gulden currency unit of 9.67 g silver as determined from the ducaton. These reforms helped cement the [[Dutch Republic]]'s role as Europe's financial center, made the [[Bank of Amsterdam]] the world's first modern central bank, and made the bank-stabilized Gulden as Europe's {{lang|la|de facto}} reserve currency until the end of the 18th century.  In 1694, a new mint ordinance recognized the gulden as a valid coin for the entire Republic.<ref>Polak 1998a, p. 201</ref>

As the bank was also an active reseller of {{lang|nl|negotiepenningen}}, or trade coins that happen to be undervalued in the Netherlands (e.g. older rixdollars still valued at 50 stuivers currency), Dutch trade coins like lion dollars, rixdollars and silver ducats were exported and became staple currency for the rest of Europe until the end of the 18th century. The [[Royal Dutch Mint]] still mints the famed silver ducat to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royaldutchmint.com/silver-ducats/en/page/2965/|title = Silver Ducats}}</ref>

A silver 1-gulden denomination weighing 10.61 g, 0.91 fine, was minted by the [[States of Holland and West Friesland]] in 1680.<ref>{{cite book | last=Krause | first=Chester |author2=Clifford Mishler  | year=2003 | edition=3rd | title=[Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700: Identification and Valuation Guide 17th Century (Standard Catalog of World Coins 17th Century Edition 1601-1700)] | publisher=[[Krause Publications]] | isbn=0-87349-666-3 | page=932 }}</ref> The gulden design featured [[Athena|Pallas Athena]] standing, holding a spear topped by a hat in her right hand,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-currency-of-the-netherlands.html|title=What is the Currency of the Netherlands?|last=Miaschi|first=John|date=1 August 2017|website=WorldAtlas|language=en|access-date=2019-08-02}}</ref> resting with her left forearm on Gospels set on an ornate basis, with a small shield in the legend.

===19th century, United Netherlands===
Following the collapse of the [[Bank of Amsterdam]] in the aftermath of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], in 1817 the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] redefined the Gulden as either 9.613 g silver or 0.60561 g gold. It was decimally divided into 100 cents, and the 1-Gulden coin was permanently issued. This standard was doomed to fail due to
* The existence in the former [[Austrian Netherlands]] of silver [[kronenthaler]]s of 25.71 g fine silver valued at 2.7 Gulden (hence, only 9.52 g per Gulden), and
* The Gulden's gold equivalent of 0.60561 g, at a Gold-Silver ratio of 15.5 in neighboring France, was worth only 9.39 g in silver.

Following Belgium's secession from the Netherlands in 1830, a more permanent solution was implemented in 1840 by reducing the Gulden to 9.45 g fine silver and repealing its fixed equivalence in gold.

===Gold Standard===
As a result of the adoption of the [[Gold Standard]] by the newly established [[German Empire]] in 1873, the Netherlands in 1875 repealed the free coinage of silver into Gulden coins, substituted by the free coinage of gold into 10-Gulden coins containing 6.048 g fine gold. This arrangement continued until the worldwide suspension of the gold standard in 1914 due to the [[First World War]]. The gold standard was revived in 1925 but was abandoned in 1936.

===After 1914===
In 1914 the guilder was traded at a rate of 2.46 guilders = 1 [[U.S. dollar]]. As of 1938, the rate was 1.82 guilders = 1 [[U.S. dollar]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Herod | first=Andrew | year=2009 | edition=1st | title=[Geographies of Globalization: A Critical Introduction] | publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] | isbn=978-1-40511-091-4 | page=13}}</ref> One Dutch guilder in 1914 could buy roughly the same amount of goods and services as 10.02 [[U.S. dollars]] or 8.17 [[euros]] in December 2017. In 1938, the guilder purchasing power would be approximately equal to 9.54 U.S. dollars or 7.78 euros in December 2017. Overall, the guilder remained a very stable currency and was also the third highest-valued currency unit in Europe in the [[interwar period]] (after the British [[Pound Sterling]] and the [[Irish pound]], which, at this time, were pegged to each other at par).

Following the [[History of the Netherlands (1939–1945)|German occupation]], on 10 May 1940, the guilder was pegged to the [[German reichsmark|Reichsmark]] at a rate of 1 guilder = 1.5 Reichsmark. This rate was reduced to 1.327 on 17 July of the same year. The liberating Allied forces set an exchange rate of 2.652 guilders = 1 [[U.S. dollar]], which became the peg for the guilder within the [[Bretton Woods system]]. In 1949, the peg was changed to 3.8 guilders = 1 dollar, approximately matching the devaluation of the [[British pound]]. In 1961, the guilder was revalued to 3.62 guilders = 1 dollar, a change approximately in line with that of the [[German mark]]. After 1967 guilders were made from [[nickel]] instead of silver.

===Euro changeover===
In 2002, the guilder was replaced by the euro at an exchange rate of 2.20371 guilders = 1 [[Euro]]. Coins remained exchangeable for euros at branches of the [[De Nederlandsche Bank|Netherlands Central Bank]] until 1 January 2007. Most guilder banknotes that were valid at the time of conversion can be exchanged until the deadline of 1 January 2032.<ref name="ecbpage">{{cite web|date=2021|title=Exchanging national cash|url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/exchange/html/index.en.html|publisher=European Central Bank|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904072749/https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/exchange/html/index.en.html|archive-date=4 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> There are some exceptions to this, and furthermore no banknote received as payment for commercial goods or services after 27 January 2002 is exchangeable.<ref name="guilderexchange1">{{cite web|date=5 September 2021|title=Exchanging guilder banknotes - De Nederlandsche Bank|url=https://www.dnb.nl/en/payments/guilder-notes/|publisher=De Nederlandsche Bank|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905081830/https://www.dnb.nl/en/payments/guilder-notes/|archive-date=5 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Refer [[Banknotes of the Dutch guilder]] for a full list of guilder Banknotes and their last valid exchange date.<ref name="guilderexchange2">{{cite web|date=5 September 2021|title=Exchangeable notes - De Nederlandsche Bank|url=https://archief20.archiefweb.eu/archives/archiefweb/20210201090324/https:/www.dnb.nl/en/payments/guldens-oude-valuta/overzicht-om-te-wisselen-biljetten/dnb344377.jsp|publisher=De Nederlandsche Bank|access-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905082015/https://archief20.archiefweb.eu/archives/archiefweb/20210201090324/https:/www.dnb.nl/en/payments/guldens-oude-valuta/overzicht-om-te-wisselen-biljetten/dnb344377.jsp|archive-date=5 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Coins==
{{Css Image Crop|Image = Netherlands-1850-proof.jpg |bSize = 410|cWidth = 200|cHeight = 200|oTop = 5|oLeft = 4|Location = right|Description=[[William III of the Netherlands]] depicted on a 20-guilder proof gold coin (1850)}}
[[File:21-2 gulden Willem III - 1871.png|thumb|200px|[[Silver coin]]: {{frac|2|1|2}} gulden [[William III of the Netherlands|Willem III]] - 1871]]
[[File:Netherlands, 1897 - Guilder, Welhelmina.jpg|200px|thumb|Guilder, 1897 (1st type of obverse). [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]]. Silver.]]
[[File:Zinc coins Netherlands 1940s World War II obverse.jpg|200px|thumb|Zinc coins minted in the 1940s during the German occupation of the Netherlands (obverse)]]
[[File:Zinc coins Netherlands 1940s World War II reverse.jpg|200px|thumb|Zinc coins minted in the 1940s during the German occupation of the Netherlands (reverse)]]

In the 18th century, coins were issued by the various provinces. There were copper 1 duit, silver 1, 2, 6 and 10 stuivers, 1 and 3 guilders, {{frac|1|2}} and 1 silver ducat rijksdaalder and {{frac|1|2}} and 1 silver rider 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 stuivers, 1 florin and 1 guilder (equivalent), 50 stuivers and {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder (also equivalent) and 1 rijksdaalder, along with gold 10 and 20 guilders. Before decimalization, the Kingdom of the Netherlands briefly issued some 1 rijksdaalder coins.

The gold 1 and 2 ducat and silver ducat (rijksdaalder) are still minted today as [[Bullion coin|bullion]] coins.

In 1817, the first coins of the decimal currency were issued, the copper 1 cent and silver 3 guilders. The remaining denominations were introduced in 1818. These were copper {{frac|1|2}} cents, silver 5, 10 and 25 cents, {{frac|1|2}} and 1 guilder, and gold 10 guilders. In 1826, gold 5-guilder 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 guilder coin by a {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder 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 guilder coins were struck again from 1875. In 1877, bronze {{frac|2|1|2}} cent coins were introduced. In 1907, silver 5-cent coins were replaced by round, cupro-nickel pieces. These were later replaced in 1913 by square shaped 5 cent pieces. In 1912, gold 5-guilder coins were reintroduced but the gold coinage was ended in 1933. The {{frac|1|2}} guilder saw discontinuation after 1930. Throughout the Wilhelmina period, a number of infrequent changes were made to the 10 and 25 cent coins as well, with the largest changes being periodic updates of the Queen's effigy and smaller changes to designs on the reverse (back).

In 1941, following the German occupation, production of all earlier coin types ceased and zinc coins were introduced by the occupational government for [[1 cent (World War II Dutch coin)|1]], [[2½ cents (World War II Dutch coin)|{{frac|2|1|2}}]], [[5 cents (World War II Dutch coin)|5]], [[10 cents (World War II Dutch coin)|10]] and [[25 cents (World War II Dutch coin)|25 cents]]. Large quantities of pre-war type silver 10 and 25 cent and 1 guilder coins were minted in the [[United States]] between 1943 and 1945 for use following liberation. Afterwards, the zinc coins were quickly demonetized and melted.

In 1948, all half cents and {{frac|2|1|2}} cents were taken out of circulation, though no further production of either denomination had continued after 1940 and 1942, respectively. New bronze 1 and 5 cent coins featuring [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]] on the obverse were issued, phasing out previous types. At the same time, new nickel 10 and 25 cent coins were introduced. In 1949, 1 and {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder banknotes were introduced. Five years later, the silver 1-guilder coin was reintroduced, followed by the silver {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder coin in 1959. The silver content was replaced with nickel in 1967, although no {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder coins were minted in 1967 and 1968. The silver coins were demonetized in 1973. In 1950, [[Queen Juliana]]'s profile replaced the image of Wilhelmina on the obverse (front) of all coins.

In 1980, production of the 1-cent coin ceased and was demonetized three years later. Soon after, it was decided to replace the 5-guilder banknote with a coin of the same value. However, it was not until 1988 that a bronze-coated nickel 5 guilder coin was finally introduced. The 5 guilder banknote remained legal tender until 1995. The {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder coin gradually began losing widespread use shortly after the introduction of the 5 guilder coin, and mintage figures for the denomination declined until the discontinuation of the guilder. 1980 also saw a circulating two coin commemorative series of 1 and {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder coins celebrating [[Queen Beatrix]]'s ascension to the throne.

All circulating coins went through a complete redesign in 1982, a short while after Queen Beatrix's coronation. They depict abstract designs featuring grids and a layered silhouette profile of the Queen as opposed to the more formal designs of the previous generation of coins. Production of these coins ceased after 2001.

At the time of withdrawal, the following denominations of coins were circulating:
* 5 cents (€0.023) – {{lang|nl|[[stuiver]]}}—the name survived, although the {{lang|nl|stuiver}} had not been an official subunit of the guilder since decimalisation in 1817;
* 10 cents (€0.045) – {{lang|nl|[[dubbeltje]]}} ('little double')—being small enough to fit into the center hole of a [[compact disc]],<ref>The size of the central hole in a [[Compact Disc|CD]] was proposed by a [[Philips]] engineer to be exactly the size of a dubbeltje. {{cite news|url=http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/economie/article2047200.ece/Philips_geeerd_voor_uitvinding_compact_disc.html|title= Philips geëerd voor uitvinding compact disc: 'Sony en wij waren één familie, de cd was onze baby'|last=Beijen|first=Frank|date=6 March 2009|work=[[Trouw]]|language=nl|access-date=13 April 2010}}</ref> it was the smallest coin in circulation. It was worth two stuivers, hence the name;
* 25 cents (€0.11) – {{lang|nl|kwartje}} ('little quarter')—the {{lang|nl|kwartje}} was smaller than the stuiver, though larger than the {{lang|nl|dubbeltje}} and the cent;
* [[One guilder coin (1982–2001)|1 guilder]] (€0.45) – {{lang|nl|gulden}}, colloquially {{lang|nl|piek}}©;
* {{frac|2|1|2}} guilders (€1.13) – {{lang|nl|[[Dutch rijksdaalder|rijksdaalder]]}}, colloquially {{lang|nl|riks}} or {{lang|nl|knaak}};
* [[5 Guilders (Dutch coin)|5 guilders]] (€2.27) – {{lang|nl|vijfje}} ('little five');

All the coins carried a profile image of the Queen on the obverse and a simple grid on the other side. The [[One guilder coin (Netherlands)|1-guilder]], {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder, and [[five guilder coin (Netherlands)|five guilder coin]]s had {{lang|nl|God zij met ons}} ('God be with us') inscribed on the edge.

==Banknotes==
{{main|Banknotes of the Dutch guilder}}
[[File:Dutch Guiana-Suriname-1 Guilder (1801) card money.jpg|thumb|One guilder, [[Card money|playing card money]] (1801). Prior to the formal introduction of paper currency, playing card money, denominated in Dutch guilders, was used in Dutch Guiana (1761–1826).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cuhaj |first1=George S. |year=2010|title=Standard Catalog of World Paper Money General Issues (1368-1960)|page =1116 |publisher=Krause Publications |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BuNA39dnuHsC  |edition=13|isbn=978-1-4402-1293-2}}</ref>]]
[[File:NetherlandsP20-2&HalfSilverGulden-1927 b.jpg|thumb|200px|Dutch {{frac|2|1|2}}-guilder [[silver certificate]] from 1927]]
[[File:US Printed Dutch Guilder.png|thumb|U.S.-printed Dutch guilder, 1943]]

Between 1814 and 1838, the [[De Nederlandsche Bank|Dutch Bank]] issued notes in denominations of 25, 40, 60, 80, 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1000 guilders. These were followed, from 1846 by state notes ({{lang|nl|muntbiljetten}}) in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 guilders, with the 10 and 50 guilders issued until 1914.

In 1904, the Dutch Bank recommenced the issuance of paper money. By 1911, it was issuing notes for 10, 25, 40, 60, 100, 200, 300 and 1000 guilders. In 1914, because of silver shortage for minting, the government introduced [[silver certificate]]s ({{lang|nl|zilverbonnen}}) for 1, {{frac|2|1|2}} and 5 guilders. Although the 5 guilder notes were only issued that year, the 1 guilder notes continued until 1920 and the {{frac|2|1|2}} guilder until 1927.

In 1926, the Dutch Bank introduced 20 guilder notes, followed by 50 guilder in 1929 and 500 guilder in 1930. These introductions followed the cessation of production of the unusual 40, 60 and 300 guilder notes during the 1920s.

In 1938, silver notes were reintroduced for 1 and {{frac|2|1|2}} guilders. During [[World War II]], the Dutch Bank continued to issue paper money, although there were some design changes, most notably, the replacement of a portrait of [[Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Queen Emma]] by a [[Rembrandt]] portrait on the 10-guilder note. The Allies printed state notes dated 1943 for use following liberation. These were in denominations of 1, {{frac|2|1|2}}, 10, 25, 50 and 100 guilders. More state notes were issued for 1 and {{frac|2|1|2}} guilders in 1945 and 1949.

Following the war, the Dutch Bank introduced notes for 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 1000 guilders. The last 20 guilder notes were dated 1955, whilst 5 guilder notes were introduced in 1966 (replaced by coins in 1988) and 250 guilder notes in 1985.

At the time of withdrawal, the following denominations of banknotes were circulating:
* ƒ10 (€4.54) – {{lang|nl|tientje}} ('little ten'), {{lang|nl|joet}}
* ƒ25 (€11.34) – {{lang|nl|geeltje}} ('yellow one')
* ƒ50 (€22.69) – {{lang|nl|zonnebloem}} ('[[sunflower]]')
* ƒ100 (€45.38) – {{lang|nl|honderdje}}, {{lang|nl|meier}}, later {{lang|nl|snip}} ('[[Common snipe|snipe]]')
* ƒ250 (€113.45) – {{lang|nl|vuurtoren}} ('[[lighthouse]]')
* ƒ1000 (€453.78) – {{lang|nl|duizendje}}, {{lang|nl|rooie}} / {{lang|nl|rooitje}}

All but the 50 and 250 guilder notes had been issued in a new series that was the same colour as the older notes, but with a mostly abstract pattern, featuring a different bird for each denomination.

Persons depicted on those older banknotes were:
* ƒ5 – poet [[Joost van den Vondel]] (the note was replaced by a ƒ5 coin in 1988 and withdrawn entirely in 1995)
* ƒ10 – painter [[Frans Hals]]
* ƒ25 – composer [[Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck]]
* ƒ100 – admiral [[Michiel de Ruyter]] (this note, being the most profitable note to counterfeit, was the first to be replaced)
* ƒ1000 – philosopher [[Baruch Spinoza]]

These 1970s "face"-notes and the 1980s ƒ50 (sunflower), ƒ100 (snipe), and ƒ250 (lighthouse) banknotes were designed by [[Ootje Oxenaar]]. Eventually, these notes were progressively replaced from 1990 onwards by notes featuring intricate abstract designs made by [[Jaap Drupsteen]], with new designs for the ƒ10, ƒ25, ƒ100, and ƒ1000 introduced before the discontinuation of the guilder for the euro.

An anti-counterfeit warning appeared on the reverse side of all guilder banknotes prior to the final series with the exception of the ƒ250 "lighthouse" note, repeated multiple times in [[microprint]] (a technique later used on some [[Banknotes of the Indonesian rupiah|banknotes]] of the [[Indonesian rupiah]]):

{{blockquote|Criminal Code Article 208: Anyone who counterfeits or falsifies coins or banknotes with the intention of issuing or having them issued as genuine and unaltered shall be punished with a prison sentence of no more than nine years.}}

Eventually, the warning was replaced with a subtle message on the obverse side: "Counterfeiters or falsifiers will be punished", which first appeared inside a small square on the ƒ250 "lighthouse" note while still referencing the aforementioned Article 208. This reference was not shown on later banknotes.

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
!colspan=9| Dutch banknotes in circulation in 2001
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse !! Value !! Equivalent in [[euro]]s !! Size !! Theme !! Watermark !! Designer !! Date of issue
|-
|[[File:10 Gulden (1968) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:10 Gulden (1968) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ10
| €4.54
| 142 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Frans Hals]]
| [[Cornucopia]]
| [[Ootje Oxenaar]]
| 4 January 1971
|-
|[[File:10 Gulden (1997) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:10 Gulden (1997) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ10
| €4.54
| 136 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Common kingfisher]]
| [[Common kingfisher]]
| [[Jaap Drupsteen]]
| 1 September 1997
|-
|[[File:25 Gulden (1989) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:25 Gulden (1989) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ25
| €11.34
| 142 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[European robin]]
| [[European robin]]
| [[Jaap Drupsteen]]
| 27 March 1990
|-
|[[File:50 Gulden (1982) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:50 Gulden (1982) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ50
| €22.69
| 148 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Sunflower]]; polders in [[IJsselmeer]]
| [[Bee]]
| [[Ootje Oxenaar]]
| 7 September 1982
|-
|[[File:100 Gulden (1977) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:100 Gulden (1977) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ100
| €45.38
| 154 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Common snipe]] and [[Great snipe]]
| [[Common snipe]]
| [[Ootje Oxenaar]]
| 16 March 1981
|-
|[[File:100 Gulden (1992) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:100 Gulden (1992) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ100
| €45.38
| 154 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Little owl]]
| [[Little owl]]
| [[Jaap Drupsteen]]
| 7 September 1993
|-
|[[File:250 Gulden (1985) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:250 Gulden (1985) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ250
| €113.45
| 160 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Westerlichttoren|Lighthouse]] at West [[Schouwen]]; maps
| [[Rabbit]]
| [[Ootje Oxenaar]]
| 7 January 1986
|-
|[[File:1.000 Gulden (1972) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:1.000 Gulden (1972) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ1000
| €453.78
| 160 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Baruch de Spinoza]]
| Pyramid on bowl and slab
| [[Ootje Oxenaar]]
| 15 January 1973
|-
|[[File:1.000 Gulden (1994) - Vorderseite.jpg|150px]]
|[[File:1.000 Gulden (1994) - Rückseite.jpg|150px]]
| ƒ1000
| €453.78
| 166 x 76&nbsp;mm
| [[Northern lapwing]]
| [[Northern lapwing]]
| [[Jaap Drupsteen]]
| 3 April 1996
|}

== See also ==
* [[Aruban florin]]
* [[Caribbean guilder]]
* [[Dutch euro coins]]
* [[Economy of the Netherlands]]
* [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]]
* [[Netherlands Indian guilder]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.pierre-marteau.com/currency/converter.html The Marteau Early 18th century Currency Converter] with tools to convert early 18th century Dutch Guilders into the major contemporary European currencies.
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/business/2001/euro_cash/spent_currencies/guilder.stm Overview of the Dutch guilder and its history] from the BBC
* {{cite web|url=http://www.bis-ans-ende-der-welt.net/Niederlande-B-En.htm|title=Historical banknotes of the Netherlands|language=en,de|editor=Heiko Otto|access-date=2017-05-07}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=[[Netherlands|Dutch]] currency
|before=gros / grote of [[:fr:gros tournois|France]],<br />[[Flanders]], Brabant (1434)
|after=[[Euro]] (2002, [[Netherlands]]) <br />[[Belgian franc]] (1832, [[Belgium]], 1839, [[Luxembourg]]), [[Netherlands Antillean guilder]] (1940, [[Netherlands Antilles]]), [[Surinamese guilder]] (1962, [[Suriname]])
|years=1434–2002{{ref|2002|1}}<br />1434–1832 ([[Belgium]]) <br />1434–1839 ([[Luxembourg]])<br />1828–1940 ([[Netherlands Antilles]])<br />1828–1962 ([[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Surinam]])}}
{{s-end}}
{{Currency and coinage of the Netherlands}}
{{Guilder}}
{{Economic history of the Netherlands}}
{{Euro topics}}
{{Portal bar|Europe|Money|Netherlands|Numismatics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutch Guilder}}
[[Category:1832 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Currencies of Europe]]
[[Category:Currencies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Currencies replaced by the euro]]
[[Category:Economic history of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Economic history of the Dutch Republic]]
[[Category:Currencies of Europe by country|Netherlands]]
[[Category:Guilder]]