The Genius Design of Dutch Money

What:

This is a video on the design of the original Dutch banknote.

Sources:

Thank you:

To the DNB, Jaap Drupsteen, and AVRO for providing me with footage for this video.

Select visuals provided by Getty Images.

Disclaimer(s):

This video uses AI-generated voices.

Music:

Intro Song:

Name: Bermuda VCO
Made by: HOME on an Electronic Gems Compilation.
License: Emailed for permission

The rest of the songs are provided by Epidemic Sound.

Model(s):

Retro Computer

Tim.Morrow
CC 4.0

1970's Vintage Television

Glowbox 3D
CC 4.0

[hoogyoutube]

This video was made before the election, so for the record I would like to say that I am very happy with the design of the Euro and I would really, really not like to go back to the Gulden.

[insertacoin]

every Hoog video:


"Why the Dutch are absolutely better at everything in the whole history of humankind"

[jeff__w]

In 1974, as a teenager, I traveled with my parents from New York to, among other places, Amsterdam, a very standard tourist trip. The Dutch banknotes, issued just a few years before at that time, were dazzling, especially for me as someone from the US used to the almost monochrome greenback—so much so that I kept a TIEN GUILDEN note 1:08 with its Spirograph-like geometric designs. I still have it to this day, close to half a century later, my only souvenir of that trip.

[freelancepearkakkoka]

"you're not just handing them a banknote, you're handing them a flower." this is a really beautiful quote, i think it shows the extent as to how much we communicate through symbols in our every day life.

[FedericoMaggiore]

This is not a video. It's an aesthetic visual and musical journey. So mesmerizing.

[bling-]

This is some of the greatest design work I have ever seen. Oxenaar made no compromises and left his own personal easter-eggs in the notes themselves. Legend

[PhilEdwardsInc]

This has totally convinced me, which I did not expect. We have an elementary school near us that was just changed because the old name was connected to a bad guy  — I'm convinced that if I were Dutch, I would get my dream and it would have been renamed to Stegosaurus Elementary.

[jakemoeller]

After years of waiting, I recently purchased the 1982, 50 gulden banknote. The artist in me felt elated when I layed eyes on the bee and sunflower. It's a beautiful piece of currency.

[muontsy]

As a dutchie who was born after the Euro was introduced, I am happy you made this video. I never knew all this! I honestly have never even seen any of the designs.
Hearing Jort Storm was a surprise too.

[zounds]

A few more features that the Gulden banknotes had that were missing pretty much everywhere else:
1. in the bottom left corner, there is a raised marking that is different for every denomination. On the hundred Gulden note, this is a single dot, for example. This marking means a blind person can recognize the banknotes by feel, and it's another hurdle to recreating these banknotes.
2. Each denomination is a different size: larger values are also a largest size. This makes it easy to sort a stack of banknotes. It's also another forgery deterrent: you can't take a 5 Gulden banknote, remove the ink, and print a hundred Gulden design on it, using the low denomination as a source for the correct banknote paper.

[modestduck]

I love the "Epstine didnt kill himself" reference at 8:40 pretty funny easter egg

[VLTCF]

As a dutchman born in 1998 I've never had these in my hands. Thanks for showing me how beautiful these really were, I had no idea. Bedankt kerel.

[MateusVIII]

I actually dind't think the personified banknotes looked "bad" or "comical", just that it was a different artistic style. I do love his desings.
In Brazil we also use animals in our notes, instead of people! I always think it is very nice to have the wild life instead of individuals.

[evaa.]

I was very young when we changed to the Euro here in The Netherlands. I basically grew up only knowing the Euro so I love having watched this video, and understand more about when family or colleagues are reminiscing about the Gulden banknotes.
Thank you Tom Scott also for recommending this video in your newsletter

[aron.mp]

Didn't think I would be actually convinced that Dutch notes were genius. Great video!

[johanstravel]

Pure nostalgia! Still have a sunflower framed on the wall here, together with the first 20 euro I ever took out of an ATM.

[KettenDriver]

“Everyone has to walk around with my rabbit in their pocket. I like that.” That’s such a cute concept! Great editing throughly enjoyed it

[FanOfMinatozakiSana]

Bank :What is your motivation?
Him : Monopoly Money.
Bank : Seems legit.

[pauls]

It's so refreshing to see a YouTube channel not use infantile thumbnails.

[AcbTyson]

I think the sunflower 50 guilder is the greatest banknotes ever. However these notes were not the first to have single bold colour. The Dutch series you feature is from the 70s and 80s. Australian banknotes were already using bold single colours in the 60s (and there were probably others).