Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 327

Coins
The euro has eight coin denominations: 1
euro and 2 euros; 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents,
5 cents, 2 cents and 1 cent. The 2- and 1-euro
coins are both silver and golden in colour.
The 50-, 20- and 10-cent coins are golden.
The 5- , 2- and 1-cent coins are bronze.

Bank Notes
Euro bank notes have seven
denom inations. The 5-euro note
(grey in colour) is the smallest,
followed by the 10-euro note (pink),
20-euro note (blue), 50-euro note
(orange), 100-euro note (green),
200-euro note (yellow) and 500-
euro note (purple). All notes show
the stars of the European Union.

5 cents 2 cents 1 cent

2 euros 1 euro 50 cents 20 cents 10 cents

200 euros

100 euros

500 euros

20 euros

10 euros

5 euros

50 euros

CURRENCY

The euro replaced the Belgian
franc and Luxembourg franc
at the beginning of 2002, and,
in contrast to some Euro-zone
nations, there are few regrets
and little nostalgia for the old
currencies. The new currency

is a blessing for travellers

moving across Euro-zone

nations. It is also easy to han-

dle – with notes in denomina-

tions from 5 euros upwards,

shoppers are not unduly bur-

dened with excessive notes or

change. Those unaccustomed

to the euro will discover that

1- , 2- and 5- cent coins (in

French, centimes) are of little

practical value and tend to

accumulate. At the other end

of the scale, 500-euro notes

are just too valuable for many

enterprises as they are subject

to counterfeiting; many refuse

to take 500-euro notes at all.