Unique objects

Lieftinck’s budget box

The museum has Lieftinck’s ‘Third Tuesday in September’ (Budget Day) box in its collection. Just after the Second World War, the then finance minister acquired this case to present the national budget and the budget memorandum on Prinsjesdag (the state opening of parliament).

Drug toilet

This drug toilet was in use for many years at Schiphol Airport. Drug mules, identified by X-rays, would pass the bags through their body into this special toilet. Dirty money!

French hand-held fan

This hand-held fan made of French banknotes is a symbol of the tax on luxury goods introduced in the Netherlands by the French at the end of the 18th century. This tax covered items like hand-held fans, wigs and powder boxes.