Lapwing f 1000 (1994)
The Lapwing thousand guilder banknote is one of four notes created by graphic designer Jaap Drupsteen. People had to search for the bird on the note.
Read more Lapwing f 1000 (1994)
The Frans Hals f 10 model (1968)
© DNB
A classic portrait from Dutch history, with a contemporary twist. This ten-guilder note shows the face of Frans Hals, one of the most famous Dutch painters of the 17th century. The design was executed by the designer Ootje (pronounced ‘Oh-chuh’) Oxenaar, who also designed the 'Lighthouse' f 250 note (1986).
© DNB
The 'Frans Hals' model is part of the Erflaters II series, a series of notes featuring well-known figures from Dutch history with a pronounced nationalistic and traditional character. But what makes Erflaters II special is that – as always – Oxenaar put his own unique spin on it. The classic portrait, based on a self-portrait by Frans Hals, was creatively changed into a graphically interesting and more contemporary impression of this figure from Dutch history.
The blue Frans Hals ten-guilder note illustrates DNB’s efforts to discourage banknote counterfeiting. To counteract the increasing numbers of forgeries, a ban on forgery was included in the Penal Code as early as 1854 – and also mentioned on the note. Since 1968, counterfeiting has also been prohibited under copyright law. The copyright was exclusively DNB’s, and this is the first note to explicitly include this copyright, in the same way in which on euro banknotes the ECB’s copyright is indicated with the symbol ©.
In addition to raising national historical awareness, DNB also wanted to encourage wider use of the note. So for example, three circular identifying marks (‘dots’) were placed at the bottom left of the note’s front to assist visually impaired people. This not only aided blind users, but also had the advantage of hampering counterfeiters. In fact, the dots were so difficult to fake that it would be immediately noticeable if a note was inauthentic.
© DNB
Despite – or perhaps because of – these security features, the note also caused confusion. In 1972, a Frans Hals ten-guilder note was reason for the police to call on a Rotterdam fish shop. The fishmonger's observant wife had discovered an anomaly: the circles in the ‘target’ on the reverse side were missing! This incident caused a commotion among hundreds of shocked Rotterdam residents, who feared they were in possession of counterfeit money. Fortunately, reassurance from DNB soon came: when the Frans Hals ten-guilder note was published, it had already been indicated that variations could occur – in other words, it was valid money.
Until 1 January 2032, this note can still be redeemed at our Cash Desk
Curious to find out more?
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The Spinoza f 1000 model (1972)
Whenever new guilder designs were created, DNB was always closely involved. Regardless of the denomination, the bank kept a close eye on the designer’s work. After all, the authenticity features were of great importance and as such required great precision. The story of this banknote is about... fingers!
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The Sunflower f 50 model (1982)
Buzz… buzz… buzz! Did you know that banknotes can make noise? By scratching your fingernail over the orange (intaglio) line pattern on the reverse of this f 50 Sunflower banknote, you can hear the sound of a buzzing bee! But is it really a bee?
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The Lighthouse f 250 model (1986)
‘Cheerfulness, respectability and dignity’, that’s what the new f 250 note from designer R.D.E. (‘Ootje’) Oxenaar was intended to exude. The lighthouse, which was inspired by the one at Haamstede in Zeeland, was a recognisable and identifiable Dutch symbol that perfectly met these DNB requirements.
Read more The Lighthouse f 250 model (1986)
