2 Euro - Beatrix Sail Den Helder "Frigate / Petrels"

This piece dates from a period when the Netherlands had no euro coinage — 1997 predates Dutch euro circulation by five years. It is a medal or token issue tied to the Sail Den Helder maritime festival, not a coin of the realm, though it was marketed in coinlike format with a face denomination that carried no legal tender status. Sail Den Helder was established as a northern alternative to the larger Amsterdam SAIL events, centered on the historic naval port that housed the Dutch Royal Navy's main base for much of the 19th century.