Dutch first to go 'all euro'

The Netherlands became the first country to go "all euro" yesterday, its centuries-old national currency - the guilder - no longer accepted as legal tender. The euro, after circulating for nearly a month alongside the guilder, finally and fully replaced the national money at midnight Sunday.

"The majority of payments have been in euros for several days and there should be no problems," said a spokesman for the Dutch central bank.

First minted in 1329, the guilder gave way gracefully to the European single currency, triggering "neither emotion nor tears among the people", the financial daily Fiancieele Dagblad said yesterday.

Dutch shoppers in the last few weeks have slightly increased use of the guilder, according to a government agency responsible for the euro launch. In its last weekend of existence, the guilder was used in 5 per cent of transactions, up from 1 or 2 per cent in the preceding days.