The 100-guilder “Little Owl”

In 1992, DNB introduced a new 100-guilder banknote to replace the beloved “Snipe” from the 1970s. While birds remained the theme, the design took a bold turn – from realistic to abstract. Why the change?

Security through abstract design

By the early 1990s, advances in scanners and printers had made counterfeiting both easier and cheaper. DNB needed a smarter defence. Research revealed that while the public easily recognised the 100-guilder “Snipe” note and the bird depicted on it, this familiarity didn’t necessarily enhance security. In fact, people tend to remember only a handful of features when handling money. A prominent image – like a bird – might even distract from more subtle security features. The solution? A more abstract design, harder to replicate and easier to secure. As the daily newspaper de Volkskrant aptly noted in 1993: “Producing money is, above all, practicing psychology.”

The most beautiful note in the world?

DNB believed that the more people appreciated a banknote, the more likely they were to remember its security features. Public appreciation was measured periodically: designer Jaap Drupsteen’s earlier 25-guilder note saw its “beauty score” rise from 67% in 1991 to 69% in 1993. In 1993, DNB President Wim Duisenberg was quoted in Het Parool calling the Little Owl: “the most beautiful note in the world”. Not everyone agreed. A year later, Het Parool quipped in 1994: “Drupsteen degraded our banknotes to the kind of security paper that, in banana republics, people tend to carry on a roll in the breast pocket of a stained shirt.”

Smart features hidden in plain sight

It was undeniable that the Little Owl was more secure than the Snipe. When scanned, the golden sun on the lower right turns black – instantly revealing a fake.

Left: The black sun as seen on a scanned note. Right: The golden sun as it appears on the real banknote.

The scurrying field mouse and the soundless little owl

You’ll need to look closely to spot the little owl on the 100-guilder note – it’s cleverly hidden in the watermark (see picture below). From this subtle position, the owl keeps silent watch over its prey: a field mouse, which appears in the transparency register. These two naturalistic elements are more than decorative – they’re part of the note’s layered security design, which also includes a 1968 poem by C. Buddingh’:

“Who else but he lays waste to all all that scurries and slips through the night: gliding soundless on down-soft wings, with talons like clashing daggers.”