Editing Dutch euro coins (section)

== Changes to national sides ==

The Commission of the European Communities issued a recommendation on 19 December 2008, a common guideline for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation. One section of this recommendation stipulates that:

:'''Article 4. Design of the national sides:'''
::"''The national side of the euro coins intended for circulation should bear the 12 European stars that should fully surround the national design, including the year mark and the indication of the issuing Member State's name. The European stars should be depicted as on the European flag.''"

The first series of the Dutch euro coins did not comply with this recommendation. No efforts were made to amend these coins to make them compliant.

===King Willem Alexander===
Queen Beatrix  abdicated on 30 April 2013, so the design of the coins was changed for her heir, King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]]. The new coins were made to be in accordance with this recommendation.
The Royal Dutch Mint presented the new design to the public on 31 October 2013 and began releasing them into circulation in early 2014 (see [http://www.knm.nl/Het-ontwerp/nl/page/831/]).
Production of the new coins commenced on 22 January 2014. The first coins were released into circulation the next day.<ref name="newcoins"/>