[press release, translated using Google]
Stamps about the quietest area in the Netherlands
Issue date: January 4, 2021  Larger picture at bottom of page

PostNL is publishing the first stamps in this year’s Experience Nature series. The stamp sheet Experience Nature – Dwingelderveld pays attention to the unique flora and fauna of this heather landscape in the middle of Drenthe.

In the Experience Nature series, PostNL will be issuing 4 stamp sheets with a total of 40 stamps this year. The stamps contain images of plants and animals in special Dutch nature reserves. Later this year, stamp sheets will be published about the swamp landscape De Onlanden (22 February), the dune area Duin en Kruidberg (14 June) and the park near the Haarzuilens estate (16 August).

Wet slits, dry sand ridges
The Dwingelderveld National Park is the largest wet heathland area in Western Europe. This protected nature area was also voted the quietest area in the Netherlands at the end of 2020. Wet ditches and dry sand ridges alternate on the extensive moist heathland of the Dwingelderveld. As a result, there is a lot of variation in plant growth and animal life.

Natural environment
The stamps published today depict 10 striking residents of the Dwingelderveld in their natural environment. These are the Drenthe Heath sheep, the sand lizard, bee wolf, Scots pine, grass snake, yellowhammer, slow worm, crane, sphagnum moss and deer. A separate graphic layer on the stamp sheet contains transparent images of a kestrel with spread wings, the needles of a Scots pine, a creeping dung beetle, the profile of the head of a Drenthe heather sheep and a bare pedunculate oak.

Natural monuments
The Experience nature for 2021 series is, just like the previous issues, designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. Janse collaborated with nature conservation organization Natuurmonumenten in the selection of the nature areas. “During that intensive search,” says Janse, “it became clear to me again how incredibly beautiful nature in the Netherlands is. These stamps about Drenthe also show that. ”

Sheep and Yellowhammer
The stamp sheetlet opens with an intense winter image of the Drenthe heath sheep. According to Janse, this animal can still be considered as semi-wild because it can keep itself alive. “On the stamp next to it, there is the yellowhammer, a beautiful bird, on a twig. Typical for the east of our country, especially in Drenthe. And, very special, his vocals resemble the opening bars of Beethoven’s 5th symphony.”

Availability
The stamp sheet Experience nature – Dwingelderveld 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 4 January 2021 at all PostNL points of sale, the post office in the Bruna stores and via the 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.