The Dutch guilder and the D-mark were sacrificed on the altar of European unification.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

The guilder dates back to the 13th Century, making it one of the oldest currencies in Europe.

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Similarly, the disappearance of guilder-denominated bonds will hurt Dutch banks, which run around 85% of issues of such debt.

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It happened the other day when Dutch politician Geert Wilders floated the idea of the Netherlands returning to the guilder.

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The currency will change from the Netherlands Antillean guilder, known as the florin, to the Caribbean guilder in 2013, but prices are typically quoted in US dollars.

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He implored the nation to stop being "slaves to Brussels" and join his mission to return to the glory days of the guilder, the old Dutch currency.

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But, from 1 January, 700 years of history will draw to a close as guilder notes and coins are phased out and people in the Netherlands start to use euros instead.

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Mr. Fritsen says he doesn't support the anti-Islamic views of the Freedom Party, but he does support its call to return to the guilder, the Dutch national currency that the euro replaced.

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