FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

On this page you'll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about the Caribbean Guilder. Whether you're looking for quick information or more details, these FAQs will surely help.

What is the reason for the introduction of the Caribbean guilder?

On October 10, 2010, Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and formed a monetary union with a shared central bank and a new currency. In the “Regeling Gemeenschappelijk Geldstelsel Curaçao en Sint Maarten” that regulates the currency of the monetary union of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, it is stipulated that the Caribbean guilder will replace the Netherlands-Antillean guilder (NAf.).

What is the introduction date of the Caribbean guilder?

The Caribbean guilder is legal tender as of March 31, 2025

What is the exchange rate of the Caribbean guilder to the U.S. dollar?

Like the Netherlands-Antillean guilder, the Caribbean guilder is legally pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed exchange rate of US$1 = 1.79.

What is the exchange rate between the Netherlands-Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder?

The exchange rate between the Netherlands-Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder is 1:1. The Netherlands-Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder are of equal value.

How long are the Netherlands-Antillean guilder and the Caribbean guilder in circulation at the same time?

The two currencies will co-circulate for 3 months as of March 31, 2025.

How long after the introduction of the Caribbean guilder can the Netherlands-Antillean guilder still be used for payments?

Cash payments in Netherlands-Antillean guilders will be accepted for up to 3 months as of the introduction of the Caribbean guilder on March 31, 2025. This means that you can make cash payments in NAf until June 30, 2025. You will receive your change (mainly) in Caribbean guilders.

Where can I exchange my Netherlands-Antillean guilders for Caribbean guilders and for how long?

Exchanges can be made at the commercial banks where you hold an account, for up to 12 months after the introduction of the Caribbean guilder. This means that March 31, 2026, will be the last day to exchange ANG at commercial banks. However, after these 12 months, your Netherlands-Antillean guilders can still be exchanged at the CBCS for up to 29 yearsuntil March 31, 2055. Please refer to the exchange procedure on this page for further instructions.

Where can I exchange my Netherlands-Antillean guilders for Caribbean guilders if I don't have a bank account?

If you don't have an account at a commercial bank, your Netherlands-Antillean guilders can be exchanged at the CBCS for up to 30 years – until March 31, 2055. Please refer to the exchange procedure on this page for further instructions.

Do I need to make an appointment to exchange Netherlands Antillean guilders for Caribbean guilders at the CBCS?

For exchanges up to an amount of NAf 2,500, you can walk-in once without an appointment. For amounts higher than NAf 2,500 or if you want to exchange money a second time, it is necessary to make an appointment. Antillean guilders can be changed at the CBCS up to and including March 31, 2055.

Read more about the exchange procedure on this page.

What are the denominations of the Caribbean guilder?

The Caribbean-guilder coins are issued in the following denominations: 5 guilders, 1 guilder, 50 cents, 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents and 1 cent. For banknotes, the denominations are 200 guilders, 100 guilders, 50 guilders, 20 guilders and 10 guilders.

The NAf 250-guilder banknote is replaced by the 200 Caribbean-guilder note and the NAf 25-guilder banknote by the 20 Caribbean-guilder note.  The new banknote denominations are more in line with the general international payment-system practices, such as in the case of the euro and the U.S. dollar.

How are the visually impaired able to recognize the different denominations of Caribbean guilder banknotes?

The Caribbean guilder banknotes have a number of features that assist blind and partially sighted people to recognize different banknote denominations. The accessibility features that you can find on our banknotes include:

Tactile marks. There are raised lines on the left and right edges of the front side of the banknotes. You can distinguish the denomination by the number of lines.
Large numerals. The designs feature large numerals to clearly show the denomination. The large numerals have raised ink to easily identify the value of the banknotes.
Bright colors. Each banknote has a dominant color.

What is the currency symbol of the Caribbean guilder?

The currency symbol for the Caribbean guilder is Cg. With the Netherlands-Antillean guilder, NAf was used as the currency symbol.

However, the official currency code in the payment system will be XCG. Reason for this is that the official ISO currency code of more than one country (which is the case of the Countries of Curaçao and Sint Maarten) always starts with an 'X'. The official currency code for the Netherlands-Antillean guilder is ANG.

What are the new Caribbean guilder banknotes made of?

The banknotes, like the Netherlands Antilles banknotes, are made of cotton. However, the new banknotes are of better and more durable quality. As a result, the Caribbean guilder banknotes will last longer, and fewer banknotes will need to be produced. With less production and fewer banknotes destroyed, sustainable banknotes will contribute to a cleaner environment.

Why the name "Caribbean" guilder?

The name “Caribbean guilder” is stipulated in the “Regeling Gemeenschappelijk Geldstelsel Curaçao en Sint Maarten. Initially, the name “Dutch-Caribbean guilder” was agreed. However, because the Dutch Caribbean geographically includes the BES islands and Aruba, the name “Caribbean guilder” was chosen in these regulations.

What are the benefits of the Caribbean guilder?

One of the benefits of the new Caribbean guilder is that banknotes and coins – given their sophisticated design and modern, high-quality security features – are secure against counterfeiting, which limits the likelihood of experiencing fraud or loss when using cash.

How do I recognize the security features of the new Caribbean guilder banknotes?

On this page you will be able to read more about the security features of the Caribbean guilder banknotes.

Who is the supplier of the Caribbean guilder?

The coins are minted and delivered by the Royal Canadian Mint while the banknotes are printed and delivered by Crane Currency.

Who holds the copyright to the designs of the coins and banknotes?

The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten is the copyright holder. For the banknote reproduction conditions visit the CBCS website.

Still have questions?

Contact us directly via phone or email.

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