Belgium Currency

Belgium currency: The Euro sine 2002
(Fixed conversion rate: €1 = 40.3399 Belgian franc)

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The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Belgium on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as 'book money'.

Unlike banknotes, which are the same in all euro-area countries, the coins have one common side and one country-specific side. Each of the euro-area countries designed the ‘national sides’ of their coins with familiar or traditional motifs and icons.

Belgium Currency: The Coins
All Belgian euro coins show the effigy of Albert II, King of the Belgians, encircled by the twelve stars of the European Union with the royal monogram (capital 'A' and crown) to the right. The edge lettering on the €2 coin is 2**, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

The eight denominations of euro coins vary in size, weight, colour and thickness depending on their values. It's a good idea for you to see what Belgium Currency looks like before you get to Belgium. See below for coin and banknotes samples.

Belgium Currency: The Banknotes
The notes come in 5-, 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-euro denominations. There are various security features in the notes, such as a watermark, security thread and hologram, to stop counterfeiters and help recognise a genuine banknote.

5 €
Classical.
120 x 62mm.
Grey.

10 €
Romanesque.
127 x 67mm.
Red.

20 Euro
Gothic.
133 x 72mm.
Blue.

50 Euro
Renaissance.
140 x 77mm.
Orange.

100 Euro
Baroque and rococo.
147 x 82mm.
Green.

200 Euro
Iron and glass architecture.
153 x 82mm.
Yellow-brown.

500 Euro
Modern 20th century architecture.
160 x 82mm.
Purple.

Cool Belgium Euro Facts:
• Inspiration for the € symbol itself came from the Greek epsilon (Є) – a reference to the cradle of European civilisation – and the first letter of the word Europe, crossed by two parallel lines to ‘certify’ the stability of the euro.

• The Belgian euro coins were designed by Jan Alfons Keustermans, Director of the Municipal Academy of Fine Arts of Turnhout, and chosen by a panel made up of high-ranked officials, experts in numismatics and artists.

• The different sizes and contrasting colours and relief patterns of euro banknotes help people – including the visually impaired – recognise the denominations.

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