EURO IS NOW PART OF DUTCH LIFE

Ten years ago, the euro was introduced in 11 European countries, including the Netherlands - first for inter-bank business, and four years later as hard currency for the population as a whole. It was designed to promote price stability within the European Union. In 2009, 16 countries are in the eurozone, with Sweden and Iceland considering the currency's introduction. Critics, however, still maintain that life in the Netherlands has become more expensive since the euro was introduced.

Immediately after the introduction of the euro, the Dutch were able to get used to the new currency. Prices were given in both euros and the old currency, the guilder. There are still people who convert prices to see how much they are paying. A customer at a Dutch market complains: "A cauliflower was a guilder, now they're one euro each. That's the equivalent of two guilders twenty cents. Everything's became more expensive." read more (radionetherlands.nl)

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January 26, 2009