2025 Netherlands €5 Coin Issue - Dutch Water Defence Lines

• Mint: Royal Dutch Mint
• Denomination: €5
• Quality: Proof/BU/UNC
• Issue limit: 3,500/10,000/50,000
• Alloy: 92.5% Sterling Silver/Silver-plated base metal/Silver-plated base metal
• Diameter: 33/29/29 mm
• Weight: 15.5/10.5/10.5 grams
• Fine Silver Weight (Proof Only): 0.46 oz
• Design: Hans Gremmen
• Proof version in blister folder
• BU version in numbered card
• UNC version in printed card

Additional Information

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This issue celebrates the only large scale system of floodplains, dikes, locks and forts in the world, 200 kilometers long (125 miles) and consisting of 96 forts, 2 castles, 6 fortresses and more than 100 military sluices, dikes and canals.

The Dutch Water Defence Lines perfectly illustrate how the Dutch handled the water – a practice that dates back to the Middle Ages. Originally, they achieved this by enabling them to live and grow food in the marshy land. Later, they also used water to defend cities.

It all started with the Old Dutch Waterline, established in 1672. The New Dutch Waterline built on this: construction began in 1815. Construction of the Defence Line of Amsterdam started in 1880. In 1996, the latter received UNESCO World Heritage status. In 2021, both waterlines came together as the Dutch Water Defence Lines and since then they form one world heritage.

The reverse shows a sculptured map of the Netherlands, showing three features: land, water and military structures. The Dutch landscape is shown in various planes (land). Several planes are shaded, referencing the inundation areas (water). The line indicates the location of the Dutch Water Defence Lines, and the triangles represent the structures along the lines: the forts, fortresses and castles. On the obverse, King Willem-Alexander is portrayed using the same elements and structures.