Currency in Netherlands Before Euro: A Guide to the Dutch Guilder
Posted by: Ian • 3 Dec 2025
Before the euro, the currency in the Netherlands was the Dutch Guilder, or gulden as the locals called it. For centuries, it was much more than just money; it was a cornerstone of the nation's economic strength and cultural identity. If you've found some of these old coins and banknotes stashed away, you'll be glad to know our fast, easy, and hassle-free service can turn them back into cash.
From Guilders to Euros: The End of an Era
The guilder's story is deeply woven into the fabric of Dutch life, charting the country's rise from a global trading powerhouse to a key member of modern Europe. Have you got some leftover foreign currency from the Netherlands, or perhaps other European countries? Our service offers a simple, 100% guaranteed way to exchange foreign coins and notes.
Here’s a quick look at the key details of the old Dutch currency.
Dutch Guilder At a Glance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Currency Name | Dutch Guilder (Nederlandse gulden) |
| Symbol | ƒ or fl. |
| Code | NLG |
| Introduced | 1680 |
| Replaced by | Euro (€) |
| Euro Adoption | 1 January 2002 |
| Final Exchange Rate | 2.20371 guilders = €1 |
As you can see, the guilder had a long and storied history before its journey came to an end.
The Great Switch
The Netherlands officially adopted the euro on 1 January 1999, locking in the exchange rate at 2.20371 guilders to one euro. A few years later, on 28 January 2002, the guilder stopped being legal tender, marking a huge shift for the Dutch people.
It’s just one of many currencies that were replaced by the euro, and we can help you make sense of them all.
While the Dutch central bank is still offering exchanges on some old notes until 2032, let's be honest—that isn't a practical option for most. That’s why we offer a fast, simple, and 100% guaranteed service to exchange foreign coins and notes. The best part? You don’t even need to sort them, making it a truly hassle-free experience.
We’re trusted by major UK brands, including national charities, airports, supermarkets, and even police forces, to handle their leftover foreign currency. Ready to finally convert those old Dutch guilders? Find out how our service works and get started today.
The Story of the Dutch Guilder
The Dutch Guilder, known simply as the gulden to locals, was much more than just loose change. For centuries, it was the financial heartbeat of the Netherlands, a currency so stable and trusted that it helped power the Dutch Golden Age and build a global trading empire. Its story is deeply woven into the country's very identity.
This incredible history is exactly why so many guilders are still found tucked away in old collection jars, holiday money pots, and forgotten drawers. If you're sorting through old belongings, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon currency from the Netherlands before the euro was introduced.
From Medieval Coin to Global Powerhouse
The Dutch guilder, sometimes called the florin, was the official currency of the Netherlands for over 500 years before it was replaced by the euro in 2002. Its roots trace all the way back to the Burgundian Netherlands under Philip the Good, cementing its place in Dutch life for generations. You can find more details about pre-euro currencies on IG.com.
Overseen by the pioneering Bank of Amsterdam, the guilder became one of the world's most reliable forms of money—much like the US dollar is today. Its stability made it the go-to currency for international trade, a true reflection of the nation's economic muscle on the world stage.
Your Leftover Currency Has a Story and a Value
If you've stumbled upon some old Dutch money, you're not just holding obsolete currency; you're holding a piece of that incredible history. And while you can no longer spend it in shops, it still has real monetary value.
Don't let your old money gather dust. Our service offers a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to exchange foreign coins and notes. There's no need to sort anything, and our process is 100% guaranteed.
We are trusted by major UK organisations—including charities, airports, supermarkets, and police forces—to handle their leftover and donated currency. Whether you want to convert foreign coins and banknotes into cash or donate foreign coins to charity, we make the entire process simple and secure. Find out how you can turn your old guilders into value by visiting our homepage.
How To Identify Your Old Dutch Currency
Stumbled upon a stash of old coins and banknotes in a drawer? You might just be holding onto Dutch guilders, the currency the Netherlands used before the euro took over. Figuring out what you've got is simpler than you might think.
Guilders have a distinctly Dutch feel to them, often featuring national symbols, famous figures from Dutch history, and portraits of their royalty. You'll want to keep an eye out for the "Nederland" inscription and the "ƒ" or "fl." symbol, which are dead giveaways.
What Coins and Banknotes Look Like
To give you a better idea, here's a quick rundown of the most common denominations you're likely to find.
| Denomination | Type (Coin/Banknote) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 5 cent (Stuiver) | Coin | A small bronze coin. |
| 10 cent (Dubbeltje) | Coin | A small silver-coloured nickel coin. |
| 25 cent (Kwartje) | Coin | A nickel coin, slightly larger than the dubbeltje. |
| 1 guilder | Coin | A larger nickel coin, often with the Queen's profile. |
| 2.5 guilder (Rijksdaalder) | Coin | The largest common circulation coin. |
| 5 guilder | Banknote | Famous for its vibrant, modern designs. |
| 10 guilder | Banknote | Often featured prominent Dutch figures. |
| 25 guilder | Banknote | Colourful notes with intricate artistic details. |
The banknotes, in particular, are often quite beautiful and intricate. Later versions moved away from traditional portraits towards more modern, abstract art, like the striking 5-guilder note from 1966. This visual timeline shows just how much the currency changed over the years.
As you can see, the designs evolved to reflect the nation's journey through different historical periods.
Don't Worry About Sorting It Yourself
Now, while it's interesting to know what to look for, you absolutely don't need to be a currency expert to cash in on what you've found. Sorting through a big pile of coins and notes can be a real headache.
That's where we come in.
Our service is designed to be completely hassle-free. There's no need to identify every single coin or sort them into little bags. Just send it all to us, and we'll take care of the rest. We handle everything for you.
We are trusted by major UK brands, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces, to manage their found and donated currency. Our service is fast, easy, and 100% guaranteed, giving you complete peace of mind when you want to convert foreign coins and banknotes.
So, whether you're clearing out a forgotten travel wallet or dealing with a collection, we make it simple to turn that old, obsolete money back into real cash.
The Big Switch: From Guilders to Euros
For anyone in the Netherlands at the turn of the millennium, the change from the Dutch guilder to the euro was a massive event. It wasn't just about new money in your wallet; it was the end of a currency that had been around for centuries. The whole process was handled with a permanently fixed exchange rate of NLG 2.20371 to €1.00, making sure the conversion was straightforward and fair for everyone.
For a little while, both currencies existed side-by-side, but the guilder was officially retired in early 2002. Since then, you can't just walk into a high street bank and exchange them. This created a bit of a problem for people who stumbled upon old holiday money or inherited a collection of Dutch coins and notes.
So, What Can You Do With Your Old Guilders?
You might think that because your local bank won't take them, they're worthless. Not quite. The Dutch central bank did offer an exchange window, but the deadline for swapping coins has long since passed. While there's still a chance to exchange some banknotes until 2032, it's often a complicated process that just isn't practical for most people.
This is exactly where we come in. The Dutch guilder was a heavyweight currency back in the day, especially during the Netherlands' trading boom in the 17th and 18th centuries. If you're curious about its history, you can find out more about its major role on the world stage on Wikipedia.
Don't let official deadlines or tricky paperwork stop you from cashing in on your old currency. We provide a simple, fast, and completely hassle-free way to exchange foreign coins and notes that are no longer in use.
Our service is 100% guaranteed, and you don't even have to worry about sorting through your collection. We're trusted by major UK brands, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces, to turn forgotten foreign currency into real money.
Ready to unlock the value in your old Dutch guilders? Head over to our homepage to get started.
How to Exchange Your Leftover Dutch Guilders
So, you've found a stash of old Dutch guilders. Don’t just write them off as a quirky souvenir! That old money still holds real value, and turning it back into cash is surprisingly straightforward, even though you can't spend it in shops anymore.
We’ve designed our service to be the simplest way to exchange foreign coins and notes. It's a fast, easy, and hassle-free process that gets cash back in your pocket. Forget about spending hours sorting through different denominations or separating notes from shrapnel. Just send it all to us, and we'll take care of the rest.
A Simple and Guaranteed Process
We know that dealing with obsolete currency can seem daunting, so we’ve built our exchange service on a foundation of trust and simplicity. We’ve cut out all the usual complications to make it as easy as possible. Our process is 100% guaranteed, giving you total peace of mind from the moment you send your guilders to the moment you get paid.
It’s this commitment to reliability that has made us a trusted partner for some of the UK’s biggest organisations. We work with well-known names who need a credible and efficient service, including:
- National charities processing donated foreign currency.
- Major supermarkets and airports managing leftover coins.
- Police forces dealing with collections of found money.
They rely on us because we deliver a professional service every single time, making it easy to convert foreign coins and banknotes into usable funds.
Your Options for Leftover Currency
When you send us your Dutch guilders, what happens next is up to you. You can get paid directly, or you can use that old money to make a real difference. Many of our customers choose to donate foreign coins to charity, turning forgotten pocket change into valuable contributions for great causes.
Our mission is to unlock the value in leftover currency. Whether it's a handful of coins from a past holiday or a large collection of obsolete notes, we provide a secure and effortless way to exchange it.
No matter how much you have, we treat every submission with the same professional care. If you're still wondering what your options are, you can learn more about how to exchange leftover foreign currency in our detailed guide.
Ready to get started? Head over to our homepage and see just how easy it is to turn your old Dutch guilders into cash.
Still Got Old Dutch Guilders? Your Questions Answered
If you've stumbled across a stash of old Dutch currency, you probably have a few questions. It's a common situation, and we've put together answers to the queries we hear most often about the old Netherlands guilder.
Can I Still Exchange Dutch Guilders Anywhere?
This is the big one, isn't it? The short answer is: it's tricky. While the Dutch central bank might still exchange certain old banknotes, the deadline for coins passed a long time ago. Your local high street bank in the UK won't be interested either.
This is exactly why our service exists. We provide a straightforward, reliable way to exchange foreign coins and notes that are no longer accepted elsewhere.
Are My Old Dutch Coins Worthless Now?
Absolutely not! While you can't pop into a shop in Amsterdam and spend them anymore, your old Dutch coins and banknotes definitely still have value. Don't let them sit in a jar gathering dust when you could easily turn that leftover foreign currency back into cash.
We've designed our service to be completely hassle-free. You don’t even need to sort through your coins and notes. Just pop them in a bag, send them over, and our 100% guaranteed process ensures you get paid for every last piece.
How Does Your Exchange Service Work?
We believe exchanging old money should be simple. Forget about complicated forms or long queues—our fast and easy process makes it a breeze.
- Bag It Up: Gather all your Dutch guilders—and any other foreign currency you might have. Seriously, don't worry about sorting it.
- Send It Off: Pop your collection in the post to us. We provide clear, secure instructions to make it easy.
- Get Paid: As soon as we receive it, we'll get to work processing your currency and send the payment straight to you.
It really is that simple. We’re already the trusted choice for major UK charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces who rely on us for our efficiency and credibility. So, whether you want to convert foreign coins and banknotes for yourself or donate foreign coins to charity, we’re here to help.
Ready to unlock the cash hidden in your old Dutch guilders? At We Buy All Currency, our fast, easy, and hassle-free service turns forgotten money into real value with a 100% guarantee. Head over to our homepage at https://www.webuyallcurrency.com to get started and exchange your leftover currency today