(Nederlands) Op 24 februari stelde gouverneur Quaden het Verslag 2009 over de economische en financiële ontwikkeling voor aan de leerkrachten economie uit de beide landsgedeelten. De slides die daarbij werden gebruikt, kunnen nu worden gedownload.
Tag: National Bank of Belgium
New educational pack
An updated and expanded version of the educational museum pack is from now on available in Dutch and in French. It can be downloaded from the Museum’s website in the sections ‘Lerarenkamer’ (NL) or ‘Salle des profs’ (FR)
Art and Money
The National Bank of Belgium supports like a number of other companies and central banks contemporary artists. Since the acquired works are hung up on the walls of its premises, they are not usually seen by the public. From time to time a work is presented in a public hall, like the Museum of the NBB, where it can be admired by the public at large.
1851: The first-born notes of the National Bank
Nowadays, the National Bank of Belgium is the only financial institution authorized to print banknotes in Belgium. However, this has not always been the case. During the first half of the 19th century several banks put their own notes in circulation. The Bank which was founded by law of 5 May 1850 issued its first series in 1851.
The Museum’s façade
Before looking at the Bank’s oldest façade in detail, a few more words on the Hôtel of the Governor itself. The Old French word, “hôtel” has been used since the 18th century to signify the urban residence, temporary or permanent, of a person of high rank, in this case the Governor of the National Bank of Belgium. The statutes of the Bank stipulated that the Governor should live in the capital; in return, the Bank was to be responsible for the cost of furnishing and maintaining his town residence.
Expo ‘58, the Atomium and the National Bank of Belgium
The Universal and International Exhibition - Brussels 1958, Expo ‘58 for short, opened its doors 17th April north of the Brussels city centre at the Heysel plains with the Osseghem Park in the middle. Before the final closure of the gates on October, 19th almost 42 million people visited the Expo and Brussels was completely transformed.
First centenary: time for innovation
The design of the euro banknotes depicts the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe’s cultural history. Compared to the former notes of the member states of the euro area which can be regarded as glorious portrait galleries, the euro notes no longer depict portraits from famous persons of the euro area. Questions that might have given rise to discussion were, amongst others: who? males? females? what nationality? In the 20th century the portrait became one of the main motifs of the Belgian notes.
A Nazi Counterfeit in the National Bank
The object we present you this month is a note you would not expect in the National Bank. It is indeed the only false note in the Museum’s showcases. To understand its presence, we have to dig into Europe’s past, in the history of World War II to be precise. This note is part of one of the most important forgeries ever set up and this counterfeiting was engineered by Nazi Germany.
The Compagnie des Bronzes and lighting at the Hôtel of the Governor
On 5 May 1850, King Leopold I gave royal assent to the bill providing for the creation of the National Bank. After being located initially in the rue Royale, the Bank decided in 1859 to construct its new headquarters in the rue du Bois Sauvage on the north side of the collegiate church of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.
Victor Hugo: shareholder of the National Bank
The document which we are displaying is a letter from Victor Hugo acknowledging receipt of shares bought from the National Bank of Belgium. Victor Hugo was born at Besançon in 1802 and died in Paris in 1885 at the age of 83. He is the most important of the French romantic authors. Hugo produced a very diverse range of works, writing stories, lyrical poetry, plays in verse and prose, political speeches and a great many letters.
