diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Platforms/AbstractPlatform.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Platforms/AbstractPlatform.php
index 165fa9aed..58632c4c1 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Platforms/AbstractPlatform.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Platforms/AbstractPlatform.php
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ abstract class AbstractPlatform
      */
     public function getDateFormatString()
     {
-        return '!Y-m-d';
+        return 'Y-m-d';
     }
     
     /**
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/DateType.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/DateType.php
index 29aee72ad..9709ef137 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/DateType.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/DateType.php
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ class DateType extends Type
     public function convertToPHPValue($value, AbstractPlatform $platform)
     {
         return ($value !== null) 
-            ? \DateTime::createFromFormat($platform->getDateFormatString(), $value) : null;
+            ? \DateTime::createFromFormat('!'.$platform->getDateFormatString(), $value) : null;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file