Birds of Sint Eustatius (Netherlands 2025)

[from PostNL press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius

Issue date: 2 January 2025
Appearance: Sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs, each with denomination 1 for mail weighing up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands
Item number: 450162
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Alamy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Wikimedia Commons

The Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius stamp sheet features 10 different designs. The stamps are denominated 1, for mail weighing up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands. The price of a sheet with 10 stamps is €12.10.

This stamp sheet is part of the multi-year Experience Nature series, dedicated to the biodiversity of the Caribbean Netherlands during 2024-2026. Each year, four stamp sheets will be issued, each with 10 different stamps. These stamps feature plants and animals found in this part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This region boasts remarkable biodiversity, with thousands of plant andanimal species. In 2025, the stamps will focus on the island’s birds, butterflies, underwater world, and flora. The Experience Nature – Birds of Sint Eustatius stamps highlight the following birds: merlin, laughing gull, indigo bunting, lesser Antillean bullfinch, semipalmated plover, green heron, purple-throated carib, royal tern, American oystercatcher, and northern parula.

Sint Eustatius, also known as locally as “Statia,” is an island of approximately 8 square miles. “Sint” means “Saint” in Dutch.

Like Bonaire and Saba, the island of Sint Eustatius holds a special status within the Netherlands. These three islands are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands. Along with Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, they make up the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Known locally as Statia, Sint Eustatius is one of the Leeward Islands, referring to their position relative to the prevailing northeastern trade winds. The island lies between Saba and Saint Kitts and is separated from them by shallow seas. Its sole town and capital is Oranjestad. Since 2010, Sint Eustatius has been a special municipality, governed by an island council, which is responsible for local legislation, with executive power held by island commissioners appointed by the council and overseen by the island governor.

Sint Eustatius has a population of around 3,000 people, and the official language is English. The island is dominated by the dormant volcano The Quill (601 metres) in the southeast and the extinct volcanic area surrounding Bergje hill (223 metres) in the north. It boasts three national parks: Quill/Boven National Park, Statia National Marine Park, and the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden.

Sint Eustatius is a haven for bird enthusiasts, with a rich diversity of species. According to Bird Checklists of the World (2022), 123 different bird species have been recorded on the island, including approximately 30 breeding species. Among the island’s remarkable avian residents is the smallest bird in the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the Antillean crested hummingbird. Another notable resident, shared with nearby Saba, is the red-billed tropicbird. These islands are home to 40% of the world’s 8,000 breeding pairs of this species. Known for its striking red bill and long tail, this seabird nests on the cliffs and rocks of the islands’ coasts. The red-billed tropicbird is the only seabird that breeds on Sint Eustatius. Bird conservation efforts on the island are supported by Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife Netherlands) through collaboration with local organisations and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. Initiatives include projects aimed at preventing nest predation by rats and feral cats, and protecting the endangered bridled quail-dove.

The stamp sheet was designed by Frank Janse from Gouda. Each bird is portrayed in its natural habitat on its own stamp. He has previously designed the earlier entries in the Experience Nature series starting in 2018. In 2024, Janse designed the stamp sheet and stamps featuring the Regalia of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 24-karat gold, and in 2023, the Holland America Line 150 years, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Juliana’s Inauguration 1948 stamps, also in 24-karat gold.

All the bird photos are integrated into a graphic design of circular shapes, which also appear on the sheet’s border. In some instances, the image extends onto the adjacent stamp and the border. Janse has also added graphic elements at various points on the stamp sheet, inspired by symbols found on old topographic maps, such as representations of landscape forms, contour lines, vegetation, soil structures, and watercourses.

Technical Specifications:

Stamp size: 40 x 30 mm
Sheet size: 122 x 170 mm
Paper: Normal with phosphor print
Gumming: Self-adhesive
Printing technique: Offset
Printing colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Print run: 275,000 sheets
Appearance: Sheet of 10 stamps in 10 different designs
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Photography: Alamy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Wikimedia Commons
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 450162

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

750th Anniversary of Amsterdam (Netherlands 2025)

[from press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
PostNL celebrates 750 years of Amsterdam with special stamp sheet

PostNL is celebrating Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary with a special stamp sheet. The stamp sheet contains five unique stamps designed by Michiel Schuurman, who was born and raised in Amsterdam. The stamps reflect the rich past and festive atmosphere of the capital, which will celebrate its anniversary from 27 October 2024 to 27 October 2025.

Summary:
Issue: Amsterdam 750 Years
Issue date: 2 January 2025
Appearance: Sheet of 5 special stamps in 5 different designs, each with a denomination of 1 for mail up to 20 grams sent within the Netherlands
Item number: 450161
Design: Michiel Schuurman, Amsterdam

Special design
The stamps show the number 750 in the form of a continuous ribbon, a playful reference to the city’s official anniversary banner. Each design has its own colour scheme, inspired by the diversity and vibrancy of Amsterdam. The typical Amsterdam St. Andrew’s crosses and serpentines add extra recognisability. “With this special stamp sheet, we are not only honouring the past, but also celebrating the future of Amsterdam,” says Maurice Unck, Director of Mail Netherlands at PostNL. “As the capital, Amsterdam has a unique place in our country and in the hearts of many. PostNL is proud to contribute to this festive milestone with this design.”

The Amsterdam 750 years stamp sheet was designed by Michiel Schuurman, a graphic designer from Amsterdam. Schuurman not only lives and works in the capital but was also born and raised there.

He describes the topic of Amsterdam 750 Years as vast, in every sense. “Big and grand. Both the city itself and its history and culture,” he said. “How do you summarise 750 years of city life? You’d need at least an entire book.”

“In true Amsterdam fashion, the stamps are boldly large,” he added. “They have that big-city attitude.”

750 years of history in a nutshell
The history of Amsterdam dates back to 1275, when Count Floris V granted the residents of ‘Amestelledamme’ freedom to pay tolls. In the centuries that followed, Amsterdam grew into a global city with a rich trading history and iconic urban expansions, such as the famous canal belt. Sietse Bakker, program director Amsterdam 750; ‘During our anniversary year Amsterdam 750, we celebrate the resilience, creativity and diversity of our city on its anniversary. These stamps are a beautiful symbol of the solidarity of Amsterdammers and all Dutch people in our past, present and future!

About the designer
In recent years, Schuurman has worked on projects for Amsterdam Roots (festival organisation), Block C (gallery), Lush Netherlands (cosmetics), The New Institute (cultural centre), Nike (fashion), Vlisco (textiles), De Volkskrant (newspaper), and Ymere (housing corporation). In addition to his design work, Schuurman teaches at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. For PostNL, Schuurman previously designed the stamp sheet “Gewoontjes” [“Ordinary”] (2019).

Availability
The stamp sheet ‘Amsterdam 750 years’ contains 5 stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from 2 January 2025 at Bruna stores and via the PostNL webshop. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite. The price per sheet with 5 stamps is € 6.05.

Technical Data
Stamp size: 61.89 x 29.89 mm
Sheet size: 144 x 150 mm
Paper: normal with phosphor coating
Gumming: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Print run: 115,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of 5 stamps in 5 different designs
Denomination: 1 for mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands
Design: Michiel Schuurman, Amsterdam
Printing company: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 450161