Netherlands Antillian Guilder

Overview

The Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) was the original currency used in the five Netherland Antilles Islands. Only two of the islands currently use the NL Antillean Guilder. In 2011 the Guilder was replaced with the United States Dollar on the islands of Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Bonaire. The two remaining islands that currently use the Guilder (Curaçao and Sint Maarten) plan to replace it with the new Caribbean Guilder, likely in 2013.

Economy

• Tourism is the main industry on the islands Bonaire, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao.
• Bonaire and Curaçao have trans-shipment and petroleum refining facilities.
• Manufacturing of lights is also done on the island of Curaçao.
• Most of the Netherland Antilles Islands receive imported goods from the US, Venezuela, and Mexico.
• The Antilles Islands agricultural sector is limited due to lack of water and poor soil.
• Compared to other countries in the area, the Netherland Antilles Islands have a well-established infrastructure.
• The main export is petroleum.
• Imports are food, manufactured goods, and crude petroleum.

History

• The Netherlands Antilles used the Dutch Guilder during the 18th century. Coins were introduced in 1974.
• The Netherlands Antilles used the Reaal from 1799 to 1828. In 1828, the Dutch Guilder was re-introduced and divided into 100 cents.
• In 1940, the Netherlands was occupied by Germany and the guilder was pegged to the United States Dollar at a rate of 1 Dollar = 1.8858 Guilders.
• In 1971, the peg between the US Dollar and the Guilder was changed to 1 Dollar = 1.79 Guilders.
• In 1986, Aruba was given a “status aparte” and introduced the Aruban Florin.