[from the press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Ornamental birds, colorful and elegant

Issue date: October 14, 2026

Coinciding with Stamp Day, an international event, PostNL will issue a pane of 10 different Ornamental Birds, which are birds kept and bred by people as a hobby for their beautiful feathers and shapes. They are usually galliformes, an order of birds that live near the ground and usually cannot fly far or high. This makes them suitable for keeping in parks or gardens. Ornamental birds also include a number of species of waterfowl, pheasants, pigeons, cranes, and finches. Ornamental finches and pigeons are kept in aviaries. The stamps feature ten ornamental birds.

The stamp sheet was designed by Sandra Smulders. ‘”First, I carefully researched which birds belong to the ornamental birds,” she said. “Then I looked for the very most beautiful ones, ensuring that the selection naturally fit together well on the stamp sheet, while maintaining as much variety as possible.”

Stamp Day commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union, which establishes the rules for international postal traffic between member states. Since 2009, PostNL has celebrated this day with the issuance of a stamp sheet based on Dutch stamps from the past. However, starting this year, PostNL has decided to stop relying on old stamps.

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.