Catching up; not posted until October 26

[press release; translated by Google]
Miffy celebrates the children’s stamps The Hague, 23 September 2020. Miffy is celebrating on the new children’s stamps because she turned 65. Due to this special birthday, PostNL is also issuing all kinds of other stamps with images of Miffy this year.

From today until September 30, more than 140,000 students from groups 7 and 8 will be selling the children’s stamps this year. Of course, the children are on the road safely, with the challenges surrounding corona, safety is of course paramount. With the applicable corona measures, various ways have therefore been developed to go through the doors both physically and digitally. With a special sales box and order forms through the letterbox, it is also possible to keep the necessary distance at the door. For example, children can send personal video messages to offer children’s stamps (for more information about this, click here).

Chance of a better life
Stichting Kinderpostzegels [“Stamps Foundation”] and PostNL have been issuing children’s stamps since 1924 to raise money for projects aimed at the well-being of vulnerable children. This is done through a supplement of € 0.45 per stamp. The proceeds from all allowances go to the projects of the independent Children’s Stamps Foundation Netherlands. The foundation is committed to offering vulnerable children a better future.

Leading role Miffy 65 years
This year’s children’s stamps feature Miffy and her family and friends. Over the past 65 years, Miffy has become the world’s most famous and most popular of all characters from the books of Dick Bruna (1927-2017). Many children identify with Miffy and her adventures. She is uncomplicated, innocent, positive and open to new experiences.

Icon of the Netherlands
Pascal de Smit, director Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland, is delighted that this year the birthday girl Miffy is on the children’s stamps. “Miffy is truly an icon of the Netherlands, so we are very proud of that. Just as proud as of the Children’s Postage Stamp campaign, which has now become intangible cultural heritage. ”

Safe at home
This year’s campaign is aimed at giving children a safe home. At the moment 1 in 15 children in the Netherlands lives in an unsafe situation. Due to the long closure of schools in the spring this year due to the corona crisis, the situation in these families has worsened. Especially for this group, help is desperately needed.

Series Miffy 65 years even more stamps
In addition to children’s stamps, more stamps dedicated to Miffy 65 years will be released this year. For example, a gold Miffy stamp appeared on 21 June [press release here] and a silver stamp on 8 September.

Availability
The children’s stamps will be sold in the week of 23-30 September 2020 by students from groups 7 and 8. The children’s stamps are also available from 5 October, while supplies last, from Bruna, via our website and on the website of the Children’s Postage Stamps Foundation Netherlands.

All other Miffy stamps are also available through the website [direct link]. Or order by phone from Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 868 99 00.

Illustrations Dick Bruna © copyright Mercis bv, 1953-2020

I have to admit I don’t fully understand what this issue is. Can anyone shed some light?

[press release] [translated by Google]
Number stamps 1876 with a new look in 2020
The Hague, October 16, 2020. PostNL is issuing a stamp for the Day of the Stamp. The Day of the Stamp would be part of the POSTEX 2020, but unfortunately this fair cannot take place due to the corona crisis.

The Day of the Stamp is a regular part of the annual POSTEX in Omnisport in Apeldoorn. POSTEX is an international stamp event with exchange fairs, exhibitions and other special gatherings. Although POSTEX 2020 is canceled due to the corona crisis, PostNL is still issuing the Day of the Stamp 2020 stamp sheet October 16th.

½, 1, 1½, 2 and 2½ cents
The Postage Stamps Number Type 1876, also known as the Number Stamps 1876, were given low postage values to encourage the sending of newspapers and other printed matter by post. Based on a design with a large value figure, Joh. Enschedé & Zonen from Haarlem 144 years ago a uniform series with denominations of ½, 1, 1½, 2 and 2½ cents.

Rotating figures
Sandra Smulders from Gouda has redesigned and rearranged the graphic elements from the Number Stamps 1876 for the design of the Stamp Day 2020. For example, the value number 1 from one design has been rotated 180 degrees with respect to the value number 1 from the other design. Other elements from the numerical stamps are shown in a similar way, both in position and use of color.

Contemporary but respectful
Sander Smulders brought the design to 2020 in all kinds of ways, with respect for the original postage stamps from 1876. For example, the circle in the middle was given a shadow border, creating depth and color difference in the background. Gradients, multiple layers, depth, shadows and a lot of detailing were also used to bring the design up to date. That was also possible, says Smulders, “because the current techniques are many times better than they were then. In this way it has become a contemporary stamp sheetlet, while you can still clearly see what it is based on. ”

Postal Values Handbook
PostNL also publishes a stamp folder and a prestige booklet about the Day of the Stamp 2020 and the Number Stamps 1876. The prestige booklet is the 12th in the series about the history of the stamp in the Netherlands. All information in these 12 booklets is taken from the Handboek Postwaarden Nederland. Availability
The Dag van de Postzegel 2020 stamp sheet has 10 stamps in 2 different designs with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps are available from October 16 at the post office in the Bruna stores and via the PostNL website. 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.

[You can purchase these stamps from the PostNL website here.]

[press release] [official PostNL translation]
Stamp + App = Honor For Dutch DJ

The Hague, 21 October 2020. One of the best DJs in the world now has his own stamp. Dutch DJ/producer Martin Garrix’s portrait photo features on the stamp. If you buy the stamps and download a special app, you will receive a virtual performance at home by the famous DJ.

Martijn Garritsen (Amstelveen, 1996) is professionally known as Martin Garrix. In 2013, he made his international debut with Animals. This was followed by many more successes with hits such as In The Name Of Love, Scared To Be Lonely and Summer Days. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Martin Garrix was voted the world’s best DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100. In 2016, he founded his own record label: STMPD RCRDS.

Martin Garrix: ‘From an early age, I’ve been surrounded by stamps through my dad’s business. That’s why, when we founded my label, we chose a name with a reference to stamps: STMPD RCRDS. It’s an honour to feature on a stamp, and I’m really happy with the final result.’

Portrait in silhouette form
The stamps feature a silhouette portrait of Martin Garrix. His torso and head are dark blue and his arms light up. The silhouette itself features the DJ’s logo with the orangey red plus sign and x projected. The sheet edge has dark blue strips of torn paper at the top and bottom, with orangey red effects at the frayed edges.

Bold design
The Martin Garrix stamp was designed by Boris Lammertse, graphic designer at STMPD RCRDS. Lammertse has produced a bold stamp with solid dark areas and strong colours, interspersed with subtle lines in the blueprint drawing. Martin Garrix’ logo was placed in a prominent position on the stamp. Lammertse: ‘The plus sign and the x are very simple shapes, which means you can do a lot with them. We often use white, but orangey red fits in a lot better here.’

Virtual performance
Specially for this issue, there is a free app that can be downloaded through Google Play and the Apple Store. By scanning the stamps with the app, an AR application will launch a virtual performance by Martin Garrix. ‘It’s a fantastic app,’ says Stephan van den Eijnden, PostNL’s commercial director for Mail. ‘First you get a video call from Martin Garrix and then it tells you how to get this famous DJ to perform in your home. The app is free – you just need to buy the stamps and scan them.’ The app was developed in collaboration with PostNL, Joh. Enschéde, Wij Doen Dingen and Martin Garrix B.V.

Availability
The ‘Martin Garrix’ stamp sheet features five identical stamps with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g in weight destined for mail in the Netherlands. The stamps are available as of 21 October 2020 from Bruna shops and online at www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service on +31 (0)88 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

[press release; translated by Google]
Colorful stamps full of optical illusions

The Hague, September 14, 2020. Today PostNL is releasing multi-colored stamps with kaleidoscopic patterns. In the cheerful and playful stamp sheetlet full of optical illusions, graphic designer Hansje van Halem, winner of the Dutch Design Award for Communication in 2018, has applied all the colors from the color box. [A larger picture of the full sheet is shown at the end of this page.]

The issue of the ‘Kaleidoscope’ stamp sheetlet is part of a new series in which PostNL gives winners of prestigious design competitions a free assignment to design stamps. They may allow themselves to be guided by their own interests, by what fascinates and affects them. The first in this series appeared in 2019 the stamp sheetlet “Ordinary”. These stamps about marbles were designed by Michiel Schuurman, winner of the Dutch Design Award for Communication in 2017.

Invention early 19th century
The optical illusions of reflected light have been described in ancient times. The kaleidoscope as we know it today was invented in the early 19th century by Scottish physicist David Brewster. Since its invention by Brewster, the kaleidoscope has fulfilled many functions: as a toy for children, as entertainment for adults and as a source of inspiration for artists, jewelers and architects.

Narrow areas of color, wavy lines
Van Halem, known as the permanent designer of the annual Lowlands music festival, filled the “Kaleidoscope” stamp sheetlet completely with colorful symmetrical patterns. These consist of narrow areas of color separated by wavy white lines. Where the lines meet, a white butterfly shape is created.

Drawing is discovering
Van Halem started her design by drawing simple lines in a random pattern. “Without a goal, just try it out. For me, drawing equals searching, discovering. You have to look closely at what you are doing to understand what you have done. In the process I try to discover what I want to achieve. For example, I make a lot of endpapers for books and they are of course decorative. There too I look for harmony by creating optical illusions, just as happened with these stamps. ”

Availability
The stamp sheet “Kaleidoscope” has 6 different stamps with the value indication international 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with an international destination. The stamps are available from September 14, 2020 at Bruna stores and via the website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

[in de Nederlandse taal]
Kleurrijke postzegels vol optische illusies
Den Haag, 14 september 2020. PostNL brengt vandaag veelkleurige postzegels uit met caleidoscopische patronen. In het vrolijke en speelse postzegelvel vol optische illusies heeft grafisch ontwerper Hansje van Halem, winnaar van de Dutch Design Award for Communication in 2018, alle kleuren uit de kleurendoos toegepast.

De uitgifte van het postzegelvel ‘Caleidoscoop’ past in een nieuwe serie waarbij PostNL aan winnaars van prestigieuze ontwerpwedstrijden een vrije opdracht geeft om postzegels te ontwerpen. Ze mogen zich hierbij laten leiden door hun eigen interesses, door wat hen boeit en raakt. Als eerste verscheen in deze serie in 2019 het postzegelvel ‘Gewoontjes’. Deze postzegels over knikkers werden ontworpen door Michiel Schuurman, winnaar van de Dutch Design Award for Communication in 2017.

Uitvinding begin 19e eeuw
De optische illusies van weerspiegeld licht zijn al in de oudheid beschreven. De caleidoscoop zoals wij die nu kennen, werd begin 19e eeuw uitgevonden door de Schotse natuurkundige David Brewster. Sinds de uitvinding door Brewster heeft de caleidoscoop allerlei functies vervuld: als speelgoed voor kinderen, als vermaak voor volwassenen en als inspiratiebron voor kunstenaars, juweliers en architecten.

Smalle kleurvlakken, golvende lijnen
Van Halem, onder meer bekend als vaste ontwerper van het jaarlijkse muziekfestival Lowlands, vulde het postzegelvel ‘Caleidoscoop’ volledig met kleurrijke symmetrische patronen. Deze bestaan uit smalle kleurvlakken die van elkaar zijn gescheiden door golvende witte lijnen. Waar de lijnen samenkomen, ontstaat een witte vlindervorm.

Tekenen is ontdekken
Van Halem begon haar ontwerp door simpele lijntjes te tekenen in een willekeurig patroon. “Zonder doel, gewoon maar uitproberen. Tekenen staat voor mij gelijk aan zoeken, aan ontdekken. Je moet goed kijken naar wat je doet om te kunnen snappen wat je hebt gedaan. Al doende probeer ik te ontdekken wat ik wil bereiken. Ik maak bijvoorbeeld veel schutbladen voor boeken en die zijn vanzelfsprekend decoratief. Ook daar zoek ik de harmonie door optische illusies te creëren, net zoals bij deze postzegels is gebeurd.”

Verkrijgbaarheid
Het postzegelvel ‘Caleidoscoop’ telt 6 verschillende postzegels met de waarde aanduiding internationaal 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming internationaal. De postzegels zijn vanaf 14 september 2020 verkrijgbaar bij Bruna-winkels en via de website. De postzegels zijn ook telefonisch te bestellen bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

[press release; translated by Google]
Forest and heather birds in the lead on new stamps

The Hague, September 14, 2020. On the latest stamp sheetlet from the “Experience nature” series, forest and heather birds play the leading role. The ten depicted birds on the stamps are the raven, coal tit, keep, great spotted woodpecker, red-collared redstart, greylag flycatcher, gray shrike, black grouse, wryneck and rump head. [Larger illustration of full sheet at end]

Earlier this year, PostNL already issued stamps about birds of prey and owls (January 2), farmland birds (February 24) and shorebirds (June 15). The stamp sheetlet about forest and heather birds is the last of this year in this series. In individual sales, each stamp sheetlet “Experience nature” costs € 9.10. The price for the full series 2020 is € 36.40, including storage folder.

Polished away
The stamps were designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. In most birds it also shows a part of their natural habitat, such as a tree trunk or branch. “For example, the gray shrike sits on a twig with thorns,” says Janse. “The Gray Shrike is a shrike and shrike have a habit of impaling their prey, such as smaller birds or mice, alive on a twig or thorn for later eating. In the original photo, a mouse was also pinned next to the gray shrike. I just brushed it away.”

Red accents
The colors in the photos play an important role in connecting the stamps by blending the backgrounds. It was mainly a matter of selection and arrangement, because the designer did not want to manipulate the original colors out of respect for the photographer and nature. Janse: “It has become a beautiful autumnal sheet with a mossy green in the background, which fits exactly with this season. In the center of the sheet, red accents draw the attention: the background by the gray shrike, the eyebrows of the black grouse, the berries at the keep and the “pants” of the great spotted woodpecker.”

Bird Protection Netherlands
The stamps show bird species that are having a particularly difficult time. Most of them are on the Red List of breeding birds in the Netherlands or on the Red List of migrants / hibernators in the Netherlands. Resi Becker, Mail NL director of PostNL, says that it is indeed not going well with the birds in our country. “For example, the Red List of breeding birds contains 87 bird species. That is 44 percent of all species that breed in our country. Ten species are critically endangered, such as the short-eared owl and the little bittern. So it is great to draw attention to this with the issue of this stamp.”

Heather birds in danger zone
Heather birds in particular have a difficult time in our country due to the deterioration in the quality of heathland areas and the sharp decrease in the number of insects. Many bird species have therefore entered the danger zone. The black grouse, for example, is on the verge of disappearing. The wheatear can hardly be found on heaths anymore, but it can still be found in dune areas. The gray shrike only occurs as a winter guest in our country.

Availability
The stamp sheet “Experience nature – forest & heather birds” consists of 10 different stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from September 14, 2020 at all PostNL points of sale, Bruna stores and via the website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

[in de Nederlandse taal]
Bos- en heidevogels in de hoofdrol op nieuwe postzegels

Den Haag, 14 september 2020. Op het nieuwste postzegelvel uit de serie ‘Beleef de natuur’ spelen bos- en heidevogels de hoofdrol. De tien afgebeelde vogels op de postzegels zijn de raaf, zwarte mees, keep, grote bonte specht, gekraagde roodstaart, grauwe vliegenvanger, klapekster, korhoen, draaihals en matkop.

Eerder dit jaar bracht PostNL al postzegels uit over roofvogels en uilen (2 januari), boerenlandvogels (24 februari) en kustvogels (15 juni). Het postzegelvel over bos- en heidevogels is de laatste van dit jaar uit deze serie. In de losse verkoop kost elk postzegelvel ‘Beleef de natuur’ € 9,10. De prijs voor de volledige serie 2020 is € 36,40, inclusief bewaarmap.

Weggepoetst
De postzegels zijn ontworpen door grafisch ontwerper Frank Janse uit Gouda. Bij de meeste vogels laat hij ook een deel van hun natuurlijke leefomgeving zien, bijvoorbeeld een boomstam of tak. “Zo zit de klapekster op een takje met doornen”, vertelt Janse. “De klapekster is een klauwier en klauwieren hebben de gewoonte om hun prooien, zoals kleinere vogels of muizen, levend vast te spietsen op een takje of een doorn om ze later te kunnen opeten. Op de oorspronkelijke foto zat ook een muisje opgeprikt naast de klapekster. Die heb ik maar weggepoetst.”

Rode accenten
De kleuren op de foto’s spelen een belangrijke rol om de postzegels met elkaar te verbinden door de achtergronden in elkaar te laten overlopen. Het is vooral een kwestie van selecteren en rangschikken geweest, want de ontwerper wilde uit respect voor fotograaf en natuur de oorspronkelijke kleuren niet manipuleren. Janse: “Het is een mooi herfstig velletje geworden met een mossig groen op de achtergrond, wat precies bij dit jaargetijde past. In het midden van het vel trekken rode accenten de aandacht: de achtergrond bij de klapekster, de wenkbrauwen van het korhoen, de besjes bij de keep en de ‘broek’ van de grote bonte specht.”

Vogelbescherming Nederland
Op de postzegels komen vogelsoorten voor die het bijzonder moeilijk hebben. De meeste staan op de Rode Lijst van broedvogels in Nederland of op de Rode Lijst van doortrekkers/overwinteraars in Nederland. Resi Becker, directeur Mail NL van PostNL, vertelt dat het inderdaad niet goed gaat met de vogels in ons land. “Zo staan op de Rode Lijst van broedvogels 87 vogelsoorten. Dat is 44 procent van alle soorten die in ons land broeden. 10 soorten zijn ernstig bedreigd, zoals de velduil en de woudaap. Mooi om dus met de uitgifte van deze postzegel daar aandacht voor te vragen.”

Heidevogels in gevarenzone
Met name de heidevogels hebben het in ons land moeilijk door de achteruitgang van de kwaliteit van heidegebieden en de sterke afname van het aantal insecten. Veel vogelsoorten zijn daardoor in de gevarenzone gekomen. Het korhoen staat bijvoorbeeld op de rand van verdwijnen. De tapuit is nauwelijks meer op heidevelden te vinden, maar nog wel in duingebieden. De klapekster komt alleen nog als wintergast voor in ons land.

Verkrijgbaarheid
Het postzegelvel ‘Beleef de natuur – bos- & heidevogels’ telt 10 verschillende postzegels met de waardeaanduiding Nederland 1, bedoeld voor post tot en met 20 gram met een bestemming binnen Nederland. De postzegels zijn vanaf 14 september 2020 verkrijgbaar bij alle verkooppunten van PostNL, Bruna-winkels en via de website. De postzegels zijn ook telefonisch te bestellen bij de klantenservice van Collect Club op telefoonnummer 088 – 868 99 00. De geldigheidstermijn is onbepaald.

[press release; translated by Google] [we couldn’t find a translation for “droste”]
Bicycle Stamps with Droste Effect

The Hague, 17 August 2020 – The bicycle is the national means of transport in our country. For over 200 years, the “steel steed” has served to take us cyclists everywhere. With 6 new stamps, PostNL pays tribute to the two-wheeler, in particular to its parts.

The Bicycle Stamps published today show fragments of bicycle parts in real size. It concerns a reflector, a bicycle frame, a handle, a bicycle bell, a tire and an inner tube. All photos are placed at an angle of 6 degrees on the stamps, within a frame that has the same perforation as that of classic stamps.

Netherlands cycling country
The figures show that the Netherlands is a cycling country. Our country has 22.8 million bicycles, 2.1 million of which are electric. We cover about 17.4 billion kilometers every year with all those bicycles. Even our speed is known, namely an average of 15.6 kilometers per hour. Intensive bicycle use also influences how the public space is designed, with separate bicycle traffic lights, public parking facilities and some 37,000 kilometers of cycle paths. Local drivers from all over the world come to look at our cycling infrastructure, especially now that the bicycle is increasingly seen as a fast and healthy alternative to cars and public transport.

Sawn stamps
The Bicycle Stamps are designed by Sander Plug from Amsterdam. In his design he answers the question of how it is possible to get a bicycle of 1.5 x 1 meter on a stamp of 36 x 25 millimeters. Plug did this by literally sawing stamps from bicycle parts. “What you see on the stamps is almost identical to the sawn-out fragments. Some colors have been lightly edited to enhance the contrast, but that’s it. The recognisability had to be as great as possible.”

Perforations everywhere
Each fragment has been photographed full size and placed in a genuine 36 x 25 millimeter stamp. In this way, a fragment of a bicycle ends up on a bicycle stamp. “The entire stamp sheet also has the appearance of a stamp thanks to the perforation all around,” says Plug.

Availability
The stamp sheet “Bicycle stamps” consists of 6 different stamps with value indication Netherlands 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from August 17 at Bruna stores and through the website (direct link here). The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

[press release] [translated by Google]
PostNL Maps Endangered Shorebirds
Issue date: June 15

The Hague, June 15, 2020 – The dune and coastal area of the Netherlands is the breeding ground for a large part of the Dutch breeding birds. You can also see bird species that are found nowhere else in the Netherlands. Today, 10 stamps from the series “Experience nature” show 10 beautiful, but endangered shorebirds.

4 issues in 2020
On the 10 stamps Experience nature – shorebirds the following birds are depicted: little tern, lesser hunter, turnstone, snow bunting, kittiwake, great black-backed gull, sand lark, avocet, purple sandpiper and sand plover. Stamps on birds of prey and owls (January 2) and farmland birds (February 24) appeared earlier this year. Last in 2020, PostNL will issue stamps on forest and heather birds (14 September). In a separate sale a stamp sheetlet Experience nature costs € 9.10. The price for the full series 2020 is € 36.40, including storage folder.

Golden color of the summer sun
The stamps with the 10 shorebirds were designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. Due to the summer season in which the stamps come out, the yellow of the beach and dunes dominates, with deep blue skies and the golden color of the summer sun. Janse: “I also selected the photos for that. I did not have to edit the colors, because they were already there. The strong background colors contrast nicely with the drawing of the birds. They are predominantly white, black and gray, with some yellow and red accents on the beach lark and snow bunting. ”

Red List
Bird stamps show particularly difficult species. Most are on the red list of breeding birds in the Netherlands or on the red list of migrants / hibernators in the Netherlands. Stephan van den Eijnden, PostNL’s commercial director of Mail, says that the birds in our country are indeed not doing well. “For example, 87 bird species are on the red list of breeding birds. That is 44% of all species that breed in our country. 10 species are critically endangered, such as the short-eared owl and the forest monkey. ”

Divergent copies
Coastal birds can be distinguished into breeding birds, overwinterers and birds that visit our coast during the annual migration. The stamps show a variety of specimens, from the imposing great black-backed gull to the small snow bunting, the most northerly nesting songbird. Most shorebirds on the stamp sheet have seen designer Janse in his early years as a bird lover. “The great black-backed gull was one of my favorites in my youth. With that striking head and that typical whining sound. They are big animals and that made an impression. ”

Availability
The stamp sheet Experience the Nature – Coastal Birds has 10 different stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from June 15, 2020 at all PostNL points of sale, the post office in the Bruna stores and via the webshop [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

[press release] [translated by Google]
New Stamps Are Song of Praise to The Bitterbal
Issue date: June 15

The Hague, June 15, 2020 – The latest stamps from the Typical Dutch series depict the traditional bitterbal. This round version of the croquette used to be eaten with a bitter, a strong alcoholic herbal drink like gin.

The design of Typically Dutch – Bitterballen is by graphic designer Edwin van Praet of Total Design from Amsterdam. The issue is the last that PostNL will release in the Typically Dutch series this year. Stamps appeared earlier with the smoked sausage (January 2), carrots (February 24), sprinkles (March 23) and the tompouce (April 6).

“Seasoned meat stewout”
Bitterballs are very popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. The bitterbal is also known in Suriname and Indonesia, but not elsewhere. The first mention of the bitterbal in a dictionary dates from 1946. In the Dictionary of the Dutch Language, the bitterbal is described as a “deep-fried ball of seasoned meat schragout, with breaded, crispy outside, usually served as a snack with a drink”. There are now also plenty of vegetarian bitterballen available.

Current zeitgeist
When developing this concept, designer Van Praet initially used stock images. However, that worked less well because the photos found differed too much in quality and style. That is why Total Design called on the specialized food photographers and stylists of the agency Scrambled Media from Amsterdam. Van Praet: “The bitterbal is really a tradition, at a party or in a café. In addition to that tradition, we wanted to return something of the current zeitgeist. That is why we have opted for vegetarian bitterballen. You can’t tell from the outside, but they are. We tested endlessly with the amount of bitterballen we wanted to photograph for the stamp. It shouldn’t be too many, we wanted a nice number for one person to eat. ”

Wink at the bitter
On the top part of the sheet edge, the bitterballen return, but now in a much larger number and located on a square dish with a raised edge. A small bowl with mustard has also been added and some skewers with the Dutch flag. The designer first wanted to put a bit of bitterness on it, but the relationship between bitter and bitterbal has long since disappeared. Van Praet: “That is why we chose the well-known bowl with skewers. But in a glass as a nod to the bitterness. ”

Availability
The stamp sheetlet Typically Dutch – bitterballen has 6 equal stamps with the value indication Nederland 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps will be available from June 15, 2020 at the Bruna stores and via the webshop [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.

[press release]
By Train Across Australia and Great Britain, but On Stamps
Issue date: June 9 The Hague, June 15, 2020 – With the personal stamps from the Trains & Tracks series, PostNL pays extensive attention to unique train routes around the world. Last week the stamp sheets about The Ghan and the Flying Scotsman, 2 famous rail connections in Australia and Great Britain, were published.

25 stamp sheets
More stamps from this series will be released later this year: about the Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver-Jasper), PeruRail (Cusco-Machu Picchu), Eurostar (Paris-London) and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Paris-Istanbul). A total of 25 stamp sheets will be released in the 2019-2022 series in the 2019-2022 period. Each stamp sheet costs € 7.50. Subscribers receive 2 new stamp sheets every quarter. Subscribers receive the Flevolijn stamp sheetlet as a first delivery. And with the second delivery the accompanying storage album as a gift.

The Ghan Click on name to go to purchase these stamp
The Ghan is a train ride right through the middle of Australia. The Great Southern Rail carrier train runs from Adelaide in South Australia through the outback at Alice Springs and ends in Darwin in the Northern Territory. The name The Ghan is derived from the Afghan camels that used to be the main means of transport in this part of Australia.

Flying Scotsman Click on name to go to purchase these stamp
The Flying Scotsman drives the London-Edinburgh route in Great Britain. This train connection has been operational since 1862. The name Flying Scotsman dates from 1928. Flying Scotsman is also the name of one of the most famous locomotives in the world. It was built in 1923 and fully restored by the National Railway Museum between 2006 and 2016.

Armchair travelers and train enthusiasts
The Trains & Tracks series with personal stamps was designed by graphic designer Sandra Smulders from Gouda. The stamps are intended for both armchair travelers and train enthusiasts. “That is why I regularly zoom in on the details of the equipment in the design,” says Smulders. “Such as special locomotives or the beautiful interior of some wagons. When I started this design, I didn’t know much about trains. Now much more. It certainly triggered me to make such a fantastic trip myself. ”

Personal stamps
In addition to the official issue program, PostNL also has an issue program for personal stamps every year. This program is flexible in nature. This enables PostNL to respond ad hoc to current developments and requests. Each issue is designed on the basis of a fixed format with a fixed number of personal stamps.

Availability
Both the stamp sheet The Ghan and the stamp sheet Flying Scotsman has 5 personal stamps in 3 different designs with value indication International 1 for mail up to 20 grams with an international destination. The stamps will be available from June 9, 2020 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 period of validity is indefinite. 

[press release]
Golden stamp for 75 years of peace and freedom

The Hague, May 12, 2020 – Last May 5, the Netherlands celebrated the liberation of our country 75 years ago. Due to the coronavirus, all public events surrounding the May 5 celebration were canceled. Other initiatives can continue, such as the issue by PostNL of a special gold stamp.

Capitulation of Germany
In the series “End of World War II,” the stamp 75 years of Peace & Freedom appears today. This gold stamp is dedicated to the liberation of the Netherlands on May 5, 1945. The day the Germans officially surrendered.

Transferring aircraft
Today’s gold stamp features a photo of waving Dutchmen saluting passing Allied planes. The photo is written in italic letter 75 years. The photo, made by J. van Rhijn, comes from the National Archives / Spaarnestad Photo in The Hague.

5 years of occupation
With the German capitulation on May 5, 1945, the occupation of the Netherlands ended after the invasion of the German army on May 10, 1940. The Dutch East Indies had to wait until August 18, 1945 for the Japanese army to lay down its weapons. Over time, the focus of the May 5 celebration has shifted from actual historical liberation to the general interest of freedom. In many places around the world, people still fight for their daily existence. Therefore, May 5 has become a day for reflection on freedom around the world.

Gold series
The stamp about the liberation of the Netherlands is part of the series End of World War II. On January 20, the first stamp from this series appeared, about the operation Market Garden, followed on March 20 by the stamp about Anne Frank. The last stamp issue in the series is on August 17, the day that 75 years ago the Japanese army laid down its weapons in what was then the Dutch East Indies. Each stamp from the End of World War II series is made of 24 carat gold.

Availability
The End of World War II series is, as long as stocks last, only available through the webshop and at Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The stamp contains value indication 1, intended for mail up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The validity period is indefinite.