Slight increase in counterfeit euro notes seized in 2021

The number of counterfeit euro notes found in the Nethrlands last year was slightly higher the year before, the central bank of the Netherlands (DNB) reports. In both years of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of counterfeit notes was considerably lower than in previous years. This was related to the declining use of cash during the coronavirus crisis.

Globally, there was a sharp decrease in the number of counterfeit euro notes withdrawn from circulation in 2021, compared to a year earlier. About 347,000 counterfeit notes of various denominations were found in 2021, versus 460,000 in 2020.

A total of 26,100 counterfeit euro notes were found in the Netherlands last year, 600 more than in 2020. The 50 euro note was the most frequently discovered counterfeit bill, found more than 10,000 times. Roughly 40,000 of them were found in 2015, and the number of fake fifties has steadily decreased since then.

The 20 euro note and the 200 euro note were in 2nd and 3rd place. The five euro note was the least popular with counterfeiters.

The DNB emphasizes that the chance of encountering a counterfeit banknote is very small. In total there are about 28 billion euro notes in circulation.