Euro banknotes

Design of euro banknotes

There are seven different euro banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro. They were designed by Robert Kalina of the Austrian National Bank. The designs depict windows, archways and bridges from seven important architectural periods inEurope’s cultural history: classical antiquity, roman, gothic, renaissance, baroque and rococo, iron and glass construction, and contemporary 20th century architecture.

Reproduction and copyright of euro banknotes

The copyright on euro banknotes is owned by the European Central Bank (ECB). This implies, among other things, that the ECB sets the conditions under which reproductions of euro banknotes may be published. The general principle is that reproductions which might be confused with genuine euro notes are not allowed.

The life cycle of a banknote

Together with the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of the other euro countries, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) is responsible for issuing and circulating euro banknotes. New notes are designed in co-operation and then printed in several euro countries.

Damaged euro banknotes

DNB reimburses members of the public with the face value of any damaged or mutilated euro banknotes if more than half of the original note remains, unless the notes were damaged intentionally. Banknotes of which 50% or less remains will not be reimbursed. DNB will only reimburse a note if it is proved beyond any possible doubt that the missing part of the note has been destroyed.

Genuine or counterfeit?

Standards for banknotes re-issuance

If we are to have confidence in cash, it is essential that banknotes are subjected to quality and authentication checks. For this purpose, the European Central Bank (ECB) has drawn up common standards that banks and other professional cash handlers must comply with when re-issuing banknotes through cash dispensers.