[from a PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Peace, The Highest Value Of Humanity
Date of issue: 9 May 2023
A sheet of six stamps in six identical designs marked with ‘Internationaal 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery outside of the 
Netherlands.
The cooperating postal companies in Europe have been issuing stamps with a common theme for over 65 years, under the auspices of PostEurop, the organisation to which all of the European national postal operators belong. Originally the theme for the 2023 common European stamp issue by all postal services was ‘underwater world’. Because of the war in Ukraine, PostEurop made a different choice for 2022. The underwater topic was moved to 2024 and the new theme became ‘Peace – the Highest Value Of Humanity.’
The Dutch stamps are marked ‘Internationaal 1′, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery outside of the Netherlands. A sheet of six stamps costs €9.90.
Just as in 2016, PostEurop decided to prescribe a common design motif for the 2023 issue. This means there are two competitions attached to this year’s stamp issue. The first, 
for the design motif, took place in 2022. The second is the EUROPA Stamp Best Design Competition for all stamps that incorporate this design motif.
PostNL’s stamps feature Post Luxembourg’s winning design motif: colourful infinity knots linked together in a double heart shape. The knots end in stylised intertwined hands. The colour palette used symbolises all the nations of the world. According to PostEurop’s jury report, the motif is a visual metaphor for a peaceful society in which cooperation with respect for each other’s culture takes centre stage. Post Luxembourg’s winning entry was created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir of A Designers Collective.
The design of the Dutch version of the Peace, the Highest Value Of Humanity stamp sheet was created by Bart de Haas from the Hague. He incorporated Post Luxembourg’s design motif into the Dutch stamps and gave it his own twist with, among other things, the typography and the design of the sheet edge.
Using the work of other designers was not difficult in the case of this motif, de Haas explains. ‘On behalf of PostNL, I had also submitted a proposal for the design motif. Our entry and Post Luxembourg’s were actually very similar. They both had a predominantly graphic character, with the same principles of interconnection, colourfulness and universal values. There were also similarities in the form, such as the diagonal orientation with infinite knots, hands and heart shapes. Even the colour palette was almost identical.’
After various experiments, de Haas decided to let thin lines that are based on the infinite knots return at the bottom and the top of the sheet border [below right]. De Haas: ‘I divided the sheet 
border into vertical strips by extending the perforations with gradient colour bands. In these bands, diagonal hairlines transition into circular shapes. The light blue, orange and green of the bands are based on the shades of the colours on the stamps. They are also graduated to create more three-dimensionality. The light blue bands run down the sides to nicely blend in with the dark blue of the Priority logo. The light blue also has a colour gradient on the stamps and on the tabs, but on the stamps it is horizontal and on the tabs it is vertical. This creates a lattice, just like the infinity knot on the stamps.’
The Peace, the Highest Value of Humanity stamps are available while stocks last at the post office counter in Bruna shops and at shop.postnl.nl/webshop/postzegels [in Dutch]. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.
Technical Details:
Stamp size: 36 x 25mm:
Sheet size: 108 x 150mm
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Gum: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black and orange
Edition: 60,000 sheets
Appearance: sheet of stamps in 6 equal designs
