Don't go Amsterdam with 200 or 500 euro note cos NO shops/ restaurants in Amsterdam accept it (Not sure if it applies to the rest of Europe). Apparently, there is a notice on most shops that states that they don't accept 200 or 500 euro note.

We handed the 500 euro to the restaurant for our lunch which cos 66 euro and was told that they don't accept it. In the end, we decided to charge it to card and need not be told, no tips given!!

We were advised that we can change the 500 euro into smaller note by visiting the Holland Casino (near our Hotel) but we need to pay an entrance fee of 3.50 euro each. So we agreed that all of us will go in and try our luck to win back the entrance fee with 10 euro each.

Serene and I went to play jackpot and I won 50 euro!!! Sam and Junwen also won about 10 euro by playing blackjack so we did recover the cost and managed to change the 500 euro into smaller note.

Why did they have the 200 or 500 euro note in circulation when it's not 'recognised' as a legal tender??

BTW, 50 pound note is not used in United Kingdom even though you tend to get them through moneychanger overseas. You get a kind of 'stare' from the staff when you paid with 50 pound note but most of them still accepts it.