Netherlands: New Gold And Silver Proof Coins Celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th Anniversary

The 750th jubilee year of the founding of Amsterdam will be celebrated both 2024 and 2025, as the country observes the countdown to the big birthday on the 27th October 2025. There are many events and initiatives in and around Amsterdam where past, present and future connections become three of the most important pillars of the city’s anniversary. Although The Hague is the administrative seat of government of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is technically the capital city and in terms of economic and cultural activity, it holds great affection and importance to the Dutch people and visitors alike.

It is believed the metropolis known today as Amsterdam, has had human habitation since about 2600 BC. However, these settlements were probably semi-permanent or seasonal, as the Amstel's river mouth and the banks were too wet for permanent habitation. Excavations between 2005 and 2012 during expansion of the Amsterdam metro line found evidence that the origins of the city’s settlements are much older than the 12th century. Archaeologists found many objects such as axes, stone hammers and a grinding stone dating from the Neolithic era more than 4600 years ago, and the Roman era from 2000 years ago.

Amsterdam proper began when the first inhabitants settled at the mouth of the Amstel River around 1000 AD and the name of the city is derived from the van Amstel family, an influential dynasty in the medieval Netherlands from the twelfth century. They developed the Amstelland area surrounding the Amstel river whose name is also taken from the family. Well before the founding of Amsterdam, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Amestelle was established around 1100 by the bishop of Utrecht who needed an official to exercise jurisdiction on his behalf and to collect the obligatory levies in the new deanery. This task was outsourced to Wolfgerus van Amstel (1075–1131), who in 1105 was duly appointed as the local official of the Amstelland. 

The oldest document referring to the settlement of a town referred to as Amestelledamme a Dutch word which translates as 'dam in the Amstel' is found in a document dated the 27th October 1275. At this time, inhabitants of the village were thereafter exempted from paying a bridge toll in the County of Holland granted by Count Floris V (reigned 1256 – 1296). It is this date that is observed as the official date of the founding of Amsterdam. During the Middle Ages, the ever-growing city developed into one of the largest trading destinations in the world. The 17th century in particular was a Golden Age as Amsterdam was the most important trading hub in Europe and the leading financial centre of the western world. Over the last four hundred years, Amsterdam built and cultivated numerous canals as a measure to harness the waters around the city. Because of these beautifully designed waterways, Amsterdam earned the moniker as the Venice of the North.  Today, Amsterdam’s population numbers more than 930,000 inhabitants in 2024 which makes it the largest city.

The 750 year Amsterdam coins are designed by Hans Gremmen whose approach for this subject blends elements of past and present style on both the obverse and reverse of the coin. The reverse side design consists of two distinctive parts. One diagonal half features the image of an old stone frieze dating from 1350 depicting the Amsterdam Coat of Arms and shown with a matte surface. The actual design of the crest consists of a red shield and a black broad vertical stripe with three silver Saint Andrew's Crosses. It is rumoured this frieze was the very first time that the city Coat of Arms was displayed in an official capacity. The other half with a polished surface includes a modern typeface featuring the text 750 JAAR AMSTERDAM and the commemorative years 1275 – 2025. Both parts come together with the use of the three crosses from the Amsterdam Coat of Arms placed in the middle. On the obverse is a new updated effigy of HM King Willem-Alexander which is very similar to those portraits of Dutch monarchs reminiscent on earlier coinage. Encircling the likeness of the King twice is the legend WILLEM-ALEXANDER KONING DER NEDERLANDEN. The year of issue, 2024 is placed just to the upper right rim along with a mintmark and privymark.

Available to order from the 3^rd October, Both the Uncirculated and Brilliant Uncirculated €5 coins are sealed in a coin-card format. The silver Proof coin is presented in a colourful folder and includes images of landmarks in Amsterdam and specifications of the coin.  The €10 gold Proof quality coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom wood-branded Royal Dutch Mint case, along with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Dutch Mint.