The Schokker, a new Dutch currency
The municipality of Noordoostpolder in the province of Flevoland run by the Christian Union (‘centrist’ Christians) and SGP (fundamentalist Christians) is seriously considering issuing their own currency, the Schokker. The name comes from a type of Dutch ship that comes from Schokland, a village in the Noordoostpolder.
An April Fools’ Day joke it isn’t: “our own currency in the municipality would strengthen the local economy, as residents would spend more locally. Of course, you could still pay in euro.”
It wouldn’t be the first time zealous Christians closed themselves off from the real world to cause more problems for themselves and others, so we’ll keep you posted.
(Link: datditkaninnederland.nl)
You’re right that it’s probably some crazy Christian thing, but conversely, it’s a good idea for the environment. Local is environmentally better, and the super-green British city of Totnes started the same thing a while ago, the “Totnes pound”, as a way to promote the “transitions town” environmental movement. It could be one of those rare ideas on which hippies and bible thumpers can agree!