[press release]
Spring bloomers in nature on stamps

They are delicate plants, often with soft colours, which mainly bloom in spring: exotics. Originally they did not come from our country, but they have since acquired a firm spot in Dutch nature. Ten of these exotics have now been depicted on stamps by PostNL.

Colourful spring bloomers
Exotics are plants that used to be planted as ornamental plants on country estates, in monastery gardens and in the grounds of manor houses. These later feral plants are often spring bloomers with striking colourful flowers.

Sensory and associative
The ‘Experience Nature – Exotics’ stamp sheetlet was designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. His concept focuses on the sensory and associative aspects of experiencing nature. Janse: “They are all beautiful, high-quality photos. But I didn’t want to limit myself to beautiful pictures of beautiful flowers. The bulbs and tubers also had to make an appearance. For this I edited old botanical drawings, depicting the plant from head to toe – from bulb or tuber to stem, leaves and flowers.”

The beauty of nature
With the new stamps, PostNL shines a spotlight on the diversity of nature in our country. “It’s much greater than we sometimes realise at first,” says Stephan van den Eijnden, PostNL’s commercial director for Mail. “These exotics are a good example. Some of them we all know, such as the snowdrop or the lesser celandine. Others are much more modest and we only notice them if we are looking out for them. Now that they are in bloom, you have the best chance of seeing them!”

Buiten-Beeld
After mammals (2 January) and exotics (25 February), PostNL will release another two other stamp sheetlets in the ‘Experience Nature’ series, with butterflies, trees and leaves taking the spotlight. All of the photos on the stamps are from Buiten-Beeld, the Dutch image database for nature photography. An individual ‘Experience Nature’ stamp sheetlet costs €8.70. The complete series costs €34.80, including a storage folder.

Availability
The ‘Experience Nature – Exotics’ stamp sheetlet consists of ten different stamps marked with ‘Nederland 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for mail in the Netherlands. The stamps are available from 25 February 2019 from all PostNL sales points, the post office counter in Bruna stores and online at postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. 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.

[press release]
Postage stamps illustrate 220 years
From a traditional postal service to a logistics e-commerce service provider

The Hague, 24 January 2019. All local postal services in our country were nationalised in January 1799, 220 years ago. PostNL, the successor to these postal services, honours this special jubilee with the issuance of the 220 Years of Postal Service postage stamp sheet.

Three-dimensional effect
The 220 Years of Postal Service postage stamp sheet combines the classic PTT red with dark blue and two shades of orange. A striking UV coating was applied as an extra layer. The shimmer creates a festive, but also three-dimensional effect.

From conveyor belt to festive garland
The designers, Haico Beukers and Marga Scholma from Haarlem, illustrated the postal company’s history on the postage stamp sheet, based on the movement volume of letters and parcels. Marga Scholma: ‘You can also view the design as a conveyor belt in a sorting centre, which moves the post from left to right. I know that the flow is, in fact, separate, but as a designer, you have some leeway. The alternating use of colour and the block pattern on the postage stamp sheet also makes it look like a festive garland. After all, a jubilee gives cause for celebration.’

Proud of the history
Stephan van den Eijnden, Commercial Director of PostNL, is just as proud of the new postage stamp as he is of the company’s history. ‘Of course, so much has happened over 220 years. Our company’s name has also undergone frequent changes: from Post & Telegrammen in 1799 to the current PostNL. But, regardless of our name, we want to continue to be valuable to our customers. This also applies now that PostNL is transforming from a traditional postal service into a postal and logistics e-commerce service provider.

Availability
The 220 Years of Postal Service postage stamp sheet consists of 2 stamps with 2 designs, all marked with Nederland 1, the denomination for mail weighing up to 20 g destined for the Netherlands. The stamps are available as of 24 January 2019 from the post office counter in Bruna stores and online via www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. You can also order the stamps by phone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

[press release]
Focus on nature and architecture on own stamp of Texel

The Hague, 2 January 2019. The Dutch Wadden Islands are the theme of the well-known stamp series ‘Beautiful Netherlands’ in 2019. Today the first stamp sheet from this series was published, with ample attention for the nature and architecture of Texel. Later this year PostNL will publish stamps about Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog and a collection sheet about the 5 islands. Scenic beauty
The series ‘Beautiful Netherlands’ has been focusing on local history, cultural wealth and scenic beauty since 2005. The new series this year about the Dutch Wadden Islands was designed by Birza Design from Deventer.

Recognisable Texel images
The island form plays a key role in the design of ‘Beautiful Netherlands 2019’: Texel’. This is evident for the map of Texel, which the designers have placed on a small scale on the stamps and on a large scale on the stamp sheet. The stamps show recognisable Texel images: the lighthouse of Eierland, the iron sea cape near the village of Oosterend, a Texel sheep pen and a Texel lamb. The typical form of the island is also depicted in other ways in the design. For example, the font of the captions is a so-called case letter, consisting of elements which are independent of another.

Rightful pride
Almost all used photos are from a working visit to Texel by the graphic designers Ingmar and Carla Birza in the sunny summer of 2018. Carla Birza describes Texel as “a very special island of which the inhabitants of Texel are rightfully proud. For example, the undulating roads on the Hoge Berg through the garden walls, the special vegetation of the Slufter where the sea enters the land, the clay pits with water where the sheep can drink. Or the slightly elevated church in Den Hoorn, which you can clearly see from almost all sides in the flat farmland.”

Availability
The stamp sheet ‘Beautiful Netherlands 2019’ Texel’ contains five of the same stamps marked with the value ‘Nederland 1’, intended for items up to 20g in weight for delivery in the Netherlands. The stamps are available at the PostNL locations on the island of Texel from 2 January 2019 and online through www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service, please phone +31 (0)88 – 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

[press release]
Spotting wolves on stamps

The Hague, 2 January 2019. The wolf has returned to the Netherlands! Not only in the border region with Germany, but now also on new stamps about mammals in our country. They will be published today by PostNL, as the first issue of the second volume from the series ‘Experiencing nature’.

Portrayed mammals
In the Netherlands more than 100 mammal species live in the wild. Ten mammal species play a main role on the stamps: wild cat, Geoffroy’s bat, wolf, grey seal, stoat, polecat, European otter, fox, badger and rabbit. Each of the 10 portrayed mammals has its own stamp on the sheet, with images of the animals in their natural environment.

Sensory and associative
The stamps have been designed by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. The sensory and associative aspects of the experience of nature are highlighted in his concept. Janse: ‘Mammals are the most pettable, recognisable and intelligent animals we know. However, they also have nails, teeth and spines. I wanted to show this contrast, because these animals also have a dark side. Whether they are a predator or a prey animal. For example, think of the fear the wolf causes. and how people are terrified by flying bats. This is because we cannot predict their behaviour.’

Beauty of nature
With the new stamps PostNL pays tribute to the diversity of nature in our country. “It’s much greater than we sometimes realise at first,” according to Stephan van den Eijnden, PostNL’s commercial director for Mail. ‘This is also evident on the new stamp sheet, with beautiful photos of the 10 mammals. What I also particular like are the almost transparent images of 7 other mammals on the sheet. Try to find them, you will see them quickly.’

Buiten-Beeld
Later this year PostNL will publish another 3 stamp sheets for the series ‘Experiencing nature’, with a main role for exotic plants (25 Februari), butterflies (11 June) and trees and leaves (16 September). All photos on the stamps come from Buiten-Beeld, the Dutch image database for nature photography. In shops an individual stamp sheet ‘Experiencing nature’ costs € 8.70. The price for the full series is € 34.80, including a storage folder.