Metadata: Archives of the National Bank of Belgium related to the currency reforms implemented after the Second World War
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- National Archives of Belgium
- Holding institution (official language):
- Archives Générales du Royaume
- Postal address:
- Ruisbroekstraat 2-6 / Rue de Ruysbroeck 2-6, 1000 Brussel
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 513 76 80
- Web address:
- http://www.arch.be/
- Email:
- archives.generales@arch.be
- Reference number:
- NAB-Brussels-510-III.0113
- Title:
- Archives of the National Bank of Belgium related to the currency reforms implemented after the Second World War
- Title (official language):
- Archief van de Nationale Bank van België met betrekking tot de na de Tweede Wereldoorlog uitgevoerde muntsanering
- Creator/accumulator:
- Nationale Bank van België; Banque Nationale de Belgique
- Date(s):
- 1944/1962
- Extent:
- 545 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- Relevant for this guide are in particular the series of files related to the exchange, declaration and deposit of banknotes by repatriated individuals. There are several series of files, varying according to the type of file, the nature of the final decision, the exchanged amount of money etc. The fonds contains various contemporary finding aids in the form of lists (e.g. by family name, by file number) and card indexes, enabling a variety of search strategies. We point out that there will evidently only be files for the individuals who actually declared Belgian money. In the various series we find, for example, files of Jewish Shoah survivors who were repatriated and who declared banknotes. We also note a series of files concerning the declaration and deposit of banknotes by individuals living abroad – for example, in Palestine-Transjordan (no. 1364), the United States (no. 1349), Great Britain (no. 1351), Switzerland (no. 1371), and others.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The National Bank of Belgium was set up in 1850 as a public limited company (naamloze vennootschap) controlled by the Belgian government and based in Brussels. The institution maintains close ties with the Belgian government and the Ministry of Finance, although it enjoys a high degree of autonomy due to its legal personality. The National Bank is managed by a board of administrators composed of the Governor and six Directors. Supervision is carried out by the College van Censoren, a Discontocomité and a Government Commissioner. Furthermore, the General Council (e.g. distribution of dividends and profits) and the General Assembly (e.g. election of directors and censoren, reception of the balance and the report of the Governor) also play a key role. The National Bank holds a number of core competences: discounting and acquisition of commercial and government securities, trade in gold and silver, granting advances on gold and silver bullion and coins, redeeming securities entrusted to the bank, taking into custody of securities and receiving money on current accounts, and granting short-term advances on (state-)guaranteed values. The institution is also exclusively authorised to issue banknotes, and it controls the mode and volume of banknote circulation. Since its creation the National Bank holds the function of state treasurer (Rijkskassier). (G. Leloup, Inventaris van het archief van de Nationale Bank van België, Brussel, AGR, I 421, 2008; J.-M. Yante & P.-A. Tallier (dir.), F. Plisnier, S. Carnel, G. Coppieters & V. Pirlot, Gids van de instellingen van openbaar nut in België. Deel III. Band 1. Notities van de parastatalen niet onderworpen aan de wet van 16 maart 1954 (notities 291 tot 379), Guides/Gidsen no. 70, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2008, pp. 83-91.)
- Access points: locations:
- Great Britain
- Switzerland
- United States of America
- Finding aids:
- G. Leloup, Inventaris van het archief van de Nationale Bank van België met betrekking tot de na de Tweede Wereldoorlog uitgevoerde muntsanering, I 422, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2008.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
