Belgium/The Zinne, Brussels' booming local currency

Published on 17/09/2021 | La rédaction

Belgium

Two and a half years after its launch, the Zinne, Brussels' local and citizen currency, continues to be deployed.

The people of Brussels know it: Zinneke is a dog with mixed origins, just like the Capital Region. "To have a zine is to have a touch of madness, they say. And then, the Zinne is the Brussels name for the Senne. Since March 2019, it is also the name of the local, citizen and complementary currency in circulation in the 19 Brussels municipalities.

But why exchange your euros for Zinnes? Like all citizen currencies, the Zinne supports the local, circular and ethical economy in the Brussels Capital Region. The Zinne is both an alternative to the euro and complementary to it. As far as accounting is concerned, no headaches: 1 Zinne = 1€.

Valuing the short circuit

Paying in Zinnes means giving preference to local merchants and producers, thanks to your purchasing power. The money stays in a closed network: the wealth collected circulates within the Brussels territory. Like all local currencies, the Zinne also helps to counter the harmful effects of financial speculation.

Launched in March 2019 by a citizen's collective and supported by the non-profit organization Financité, the Zinne is now expanding. At present, Brussels residents can spend their Zinnes at 204 service providers: restaurants, bars, bakeries, grocery stores, massages, veterinarians, toy stores, clothing, crafts, bicycle repair shops... The list of the network is constantly expanding. "We really want to diversify this network, especially in the cultural, medical and paramedical sectors," says Benoît, a founding member of the Zinne collective and a member of the Board of Directors. "The arrival of the Nova cinema is a good example. Another example is a craftsman who creates perfumes himself with local products.

All these service providers(listed and mapped on the site) adhere to a charter of values. They are carefully selected on the basis of criteria such as the short circuit, respect for the environment, craftsmanship, social or cultural purpose... Having Zinnes in your wallet therefore also helps you to make socially responsible and environmentally friendly consumption choices.

To obtain Zinnes, go to one of the 40 exchange counters or to one of the many service providers. Today, some 100,000 Zinnes are in circulation, out of the 200,000 printed. "The currency is circulating relatively well," says Benoît. "On the whole, it allows the loop to function, with the exception of a few large providers. As for the euros exchanged in Zinnes, they have been placed in a counterpart reserve, a savings account opened by the association in an ethical and solidarity bank (Triodos).

The digital Zinne is coming

The pandemic did not slow down the craze for the Zinne, on the contrary. "During the confinements, there was a general phenomenon: everyone thought about their way of consuming," says Benoît. "The Zinne network is growing, so much so that the collective is constantly looking for new volunteers.

This year 2021 also marks the appearance of digital payment for the Zinne. "The deployment is gradually taking place and the procedure is being finalized," confirms the Anderlecht man. Electronic payments will be possible via an application and a QR code. By registering on the app, users can convert their money into Zinnes and pay directly from their smartphone. This is also a way to expand the network and reach new audiences.

Local currencies are on the rise in Belgium

The Zinne is one of the 17 local currencies currently in circulation in Wallonia and Brussels. Liège has its Val'heureux, Mons has its Ropi, Charleroi its Carol'Or and Malmédy its Sous-Rire. In Ottignies and Louvain-la-Neuve, it is the Talent that circulates, while the people of Namur can pay in Lumsou. From the first citizen's currency launched in Wallonia (the Epi lorrain, in Virton in 2012) to the most recent (the Brawette, launched on 5 September in West Walloon Brabant), nearly 200 French-speaking communes now have their own local currency. In Binche, the Fèstu should soon be launched.

According to Financité, in 2020, these citizen currencies represented more than 1.35 million euro equivalent in circulation and 2,171 participating providers. And these local currencies have the wind in their sails: over the last two years, the money supply in circulation has more than doubled.

Source: en.metrotime.be


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