Euronext Amsterdam welcomed the Dutch district water board De Stichtse Rijnlanden on Thursday 19 September 2024 for a special Gong ceremony to celebrate the interest payment on two perpetual bonds, dating back to 1638 and 1765.

The century-old bonds were issued at the time by the Utrecht Water Board Lekdijk Bovendams, legal predecessor of De Stichtse Rijnlanden, and the documents are still yielding interest. Specifically, they are a 2.5% bond (dated 1638) worth 3,200 guilders, now 386 years old, and a 2.5% bond (dated 1765) worth 1,000 guilders, now 259 years old. 

These bonds are not only part of the historical archives of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange but also hold a place in the Guinness Book of Records as some of the oldest bonds in the world that still pay interest. The last payment occurred in March 2016.

The bonds were issued following a series of breaches of the Lekdijk, the dyke that has protected large parts of Utrecht and Holland from the water since the early 12^th century. After the dyke was breached a number of times between the 15^th and 17^th centuries, resulting in flooding even in Amsterdam, the water control board decided to issue the perpetual bonds to finance the repair and reinforcement of this dyke that is still crucial to the Randstad area of the Netherlands today. Interest is still being paid on seven of these centuries-old bonds. Two of these have long been part of the historical archive of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, managed by the Amsterdam Capital Foundation (Stichting Capital Amsterdam).

Since 1638, the total interest payments have now reached nearly 1,500%. 

Despite being centuries old, these bonds are more relevant than ever. The Lekdijk is one of the most important dykes in the Netherlands due to the economic value and population it protects. It is a key component of the Dutch Flood Protection Programme. Additionally, these bonds, which have been generating interest for nearly 400 years, symbolise the financial reliability of the Netherlands.

When it comes to addressing climate change, the Euronext Group has established a clear set of strategic priorities. These priorities reflect its commitment to driving positive change and promoting sustainability within the financial sector.

We invite you to read the Euronext Transition Plan for 2024, approved by Euronext's Managing Board on 26 August 2024. 

In 2021, Euronext set out its new strategy “Growth for Impact 2024”, and expressed its ambition to build the leading market infrastructure in Europe. The Group’s goal was to make an impact on its industry and its ecosystem, fulfilling its purpose to shape capital markets for future generations.

Under this plan, Euronext N.V. has continued to pursue its mission to connect European economies to global capital markets, to accelerate innovation and sustainable growth.

Empowering sustainable finance has been a key priority since 2021. Euronext has set out to achieve this through an ambitious climate commitment that aimed to make a tangible impact on its partners and clients, with the launch of the ‘Fit for 1.5°’ climate commitment, as well as an enhanced inclusive people strategy.

‘Fit for 1.5°’ has been Euronext’s commitment since 2021, driving the company to develop services and products that help its business, partners, clients and the European economy, to curb the increase in global temperatures from pre-industrial times. The company’s goal is to help ensure this increase remains below the 1.5°C target, as set out in the Paris Agreement. An integral part of the ‘Fit For 1.5°’ climate commitment involved Euronext setting science-based quantitative climate targets that inform in-house climate action efforts. As part of its next strategic plan, covering the Group’s ambitions until 2027, Euronext will continue to pursue the Fit for 1.5° climate commitment, first undertaken in 2021.

Euronext set its science-based quantitative climate targets by signing the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, led by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in partnership with the United Nations Race to Zero campaign.

Applying the SBTi methodology to Euronext emissions led to the formulation of the following targets, which were reviewed and validated by the SBTi in February 2023:

• By 2030, Euronext will reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 market-based greenhouse gas emissions by 73.5% compared to 2020;
• By 2030, Euronext will reduce its Scope 3 business travel emissions by at least 46.2% compared to 2019;
• By 2027, Euronext suppliers, representing 72% of Euronext’s greenhouse gas emissions derived from purchased goods and services, must set targets on their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

To achieve its decarbonisation targets, Euronext has developed a comprehensive action plan and a dedicated governance has been put in place to internally mobilise all the actors and to facilitate the implementation of an integrated approach to ensure the targets are being reached.

Discover how Euronext is shaping a sustainable future with our Euronext Transition Plan 2024.