The Royal Dutch Mint’s Evolving Strategy for a Changing Coin Market

The Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) has a storied history. Established in 1567 and privatised in 2016, it moved to its new building – the so-called Dutch Vault and Europe’s first energy-neutral mint – in 2020 and was subsequently acquired by HM Precious Metals in 2024.

Now, as the RDM approaches its 460th anniversary, Coin & Mint News™ caught up with Managing Director and Mint Master Bert van Ravenswaaij to discuss the organisation’s strategy for balancing its traditional role in the production of circulating coinage with growing activities in commemorative coins and investment products.

Q: Firstly, could you tell us a little about your background?

A: I have a master’s degree in business administration, and for 15 of the 25 years that I have been working, I was involved in advertising and communications. What has always interested me is storytelling – understanding the ‘why’ behind products and finding ways to communicate that effectively. Coin collecting is very much driven by stories, history and emotion, so that background has been invaluable.