PostNL on Monday issued two new stamps to commemorate the bicentenary of the founding of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in 1815. The stamps, designed by Vanessa van Dam, show the evolution of the Kingdom’s territory in Europe.
In 1815 present day Belgium and Luxembourg were united under the crown of King Willem I, as shown on the first stamp which also bears the King’s signature. The second stamp shows present day the Netherlands, with the grand seal of King Willem-Alexander.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was technically not part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as it was given to Willem as personal fief, and although it was pretty much ruled from The Hague and treated as a Dutch province, it officially stood apart. In that way the stamp is incorrect to show Luxembourg as part of the Kingdom.
The stamps, issued in a stamp sheet, complete a series started in 2013, to commemorate the founding of the Kingdom. Earlier stamps depicted the arrival of the Prince of Orange in November 1813 in Scheveningen – he was to become Sovereign Prince, than King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands – and the bicentenary of the Constitution in 2014.
Stamps can be ordered on line through PostNL
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