Cash: euro banknotes and coins

Design of euro banknotes

For the introduction of the euro in 2002, a series of banknotes was designed based on the “ages and styles” theme. The notes show windows, doorways and bridges in architectural styles from different periods of European history. This series has seven different denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Each denomination has its own distinctive size, colour and design. In 2019, it was decided not to issue any new €500 notes. The issue of the second series of six euro denominations began in 2013. These notes have the same themes and colours as the first series, but their designs are different. For example, the watermark and the foil contain portraits of Europa, a princess from Greek mythology who symbolises Europe. 

Design of new euro notes: Beethoven or kingfisher

Another series of euro banknotes will be produced in the near future. The ECB has chosen two themes: “European culture” and “rivers and birds”. The European culture theme highlights famous Europeans and cultural spaces. The rivers and birds theme is about the freedom, resilience and diversity of nature, complemented by images of European institutions. The motifs that will be depicted have also been set. The €10 note will depict either the composer Ludwig van Beethoven or a kingfisher. Similarly, the €5 note will show either opera singer Maria Callas or a wallcreeper. The choice of theme will be made in 2026, when the design competition will be held and the final designs will be chosen. The banknotes will then be produced, which will take a lot of time. So it will be several years before we can use the new notes for the first time.

• Read more about the future euro banknotes
• Read more about the design of the banknotes on the ECB's website

Design of euro coins

There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent, and of 1 and 2 euro. Each coin has one common European side and one national side. The common side was designed in the late 1990s and depicts Europe. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins show Europe in relation to Africa and Asia on a globe. Each euro area country designs its own national side of a euro coin. The draft design is reviewed by the European Commission and submitted to the other euro area countries. The Netherlands chose an image of Queen Beatrix and later King Willem-Alexander for its national side.

• Read more about the design of the coins

Hundreds of millions of new notes

The ECB decides how many new notes are needed each year and which national central banks must commission the production of which banknotes. For example, in 2025 we are commissioning 177 million €20 banknotes. By producing new notes, central banks ensure that quantities are always sufficient. New notes are needed to replace the worn and damaged ones. Hundreds of millions of euro notes are printed every year. For example, in 2025, nearly 500 million €5 banknotes will be printed. Check out the figures here. 

Printing euro banknotes

Have you always believed euro notes are made of paper? Well, they are not. They are made of cotton. Cotton banknotes are much stronger than paper ones, which means they last longer. First, sheets of cotton are produced with a watermark, security thread and foil. When the sheets are ready, the printing process starts, which involves various printing techniques and ink types. Next, the sheets are cut into notes and delivered to the central bank. Commercial banks order the notes from the central bank. Cash-in-transit companies collect them from the central bank and fill ATMs and provide retailers with supplies. 

Euro banknotes made from sustainable cotton

All DNB’s euro notes are made of 100% sustainable cotton. Cotton grows in tropical regions. The white cotton balls are picked, and then processed in a factory and combed into long yarns. These yarns are used in the clothing industry. In the process of combing the cotton balls, small bits come off. These noils are what our banknotes are made of. The sustainable cultivation of cotton is more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, and cotton pickers get better wages.  

Checking and issuing cash

Retailers and other businesses deposit the euro notes they receive with their banks or have them collected by a cash-in-transit company, who take them to a cash sorting centre. There, the money is checked to see if it is genuine, clean and undamaged. The approved notes go back to ATMs, but we keep any remaining notes for an additional check. Notes that are soiled or heavily damaged are rejected and shredded. If we find a counterfeit banknote, we investigate it. All approved notes are put back into circulation. Euro coins also return to DNB, and coins that are still suitable for use are put back into circulation. This way, we ensure that the quality of our banknotes and coins remains high.

Do you have a damaged euro note or coin? Find out how to apply for compensation. 

Real and counterfeit banknotes

Euro banknotes are very well protected against counterfeiting thanks to the authenticity features such as the watermark and hologram. The risk of ending up with a counterfeit banknote is therefore very small. In 2024, some 24,100 counterfeit euro banknotes were detected in the Netherlands. In the checks which the banks and we carried out, only 1 out of 100,000 notes turned out to be counterfeit.

Ever wondered how to check a suspicious note and what to do with a counterfeit one?  

Cash – now and in the future

The euro is the only legal tender in all euro area countries. And it is public money, issued by Europe's central banks. They are committed to ensuring that everyone can pay with euro notes and coins safely and conveniently, now and in the future.

Read more about the DNB Payments Strategy 2022-2025.