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Economy and Finance

Belgium and the euro

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union and one of the first countries to adopt the euro on 1 January 1999.

Status

Euro area member since 1 January 1999

Fixed conversion rate

€1 = 40.3399 BEF

Adoption of the euro

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'. The dual circulation period – when both the Belgian franc and the euro had legal tender status – ended on 28 February 2002.

Exchange of former national currency

The Banque nationale de Belgique – Nationale Bank van België (National Central Bank of Belgium) exchanged national coins until 31 December 2004 and will continue to exchange national banknotes for an unlimited period.

Institutions