Netherlands Postal History: International Post Card Rates : 1921

The international post card rate set at 12 1/2c in 1921 was reduced to 7 1/2c by 1928 and remained unchanged for the the next 16 years. A lower rate was introduced during the war for post cards mailed to Germany and to member states of the European Postal Union. This post deals with the regular post card rates and will leave the concession rates to a future posting.

1. March 1, 1921 - September 30, 1925

The international post card rate was 12 1/2c.

To Great Britain

Amsterdam to Epsom, April 15, 1925

12 1/2c international post card rate

2. October 1, 1925 - September 30, 1928

The international post card rate was reduced from 12 1/2c to 10c.

To Switzerland

Velp to St. Galen, March 28, 1928

10c international post card rate

3. November 1, 1928 - September 30, 1946

The international post card rate was reduced to 7 1/2c on November 1, 1928.

a) Pre-War Period : To 1940

To the United States

Amsterdam to Denver, July 17, 1937

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Norway

s' Gravenhage to Gulskogen, December 16, 1932

7 1/2c international post card rate

To the U.S.S.R.

Rotterdam to Moscow, November 1, 1932

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Mexico

Enschede to Mexico City, May 11, 1938

7 1/2c international post card rate

Pictorial Post Card to the United States

From 1937 to 1940, The Netherlands PTT issued sets of post cards with photographs of cityscapes, windmills, castles, and landscapes.

The river Mass, Rotterdam

s'Gravenhage to San Francisco, July 31, 1939

To Great Britain

Utrecht to London, April 25, 1940

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Sweden : Express

The express fee was 25c (from November 1, 1928).

To Stockholm, March 24, 1933

32 1/2c paying the 7 1/2c international post card rate + 25c express fee

To Germany : Express

Rotterdam to Cologne, April 14, 1939

32 1/2c paying the 7 1/2c international post card rate + 25c express fee

To Switzerland : Express

Amsterdam to Grenchen, December 14, 1939

32 1/2c paying the 7 1/2c international post card rate + 25c express fee

b) The Occupation Years : 1940 -1945

To the United States

Amsterdam to New York, September 21, 1940

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Switzerland

Bussum to La Chaux de Fonds, September 15, 1941

7 1/2c international post card rate

To the United States

Amsterdam to New York, March 4, 1941

7 1/2c international post card rate (Guilloche stationery)

To Denmark

Leiden to Copenhagen, April 1, 1942

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Switzerland

Amsterdam to to La Chaux de Fonds, July 3, 1944

7 1/2c international post card rate

To Switzerland : Express

The international express fee was 25c until August 11, 1940.

Apeldorn to Zurich, July 4, 1940

32 1/2c paying the 7 1/2c international post card rate + 25c express fee

The international express fee was reduced to 20c on August 12, 1940.

s'Gravenhage to Geneva, September 30, 1941

27 1/2c paying the 7 1/2c international post card rate + 20c express fee

c) Post War : 1945 - 1946

In 1944, the Dutch government-in-exile printed a set of definitive stamps in London for use by Dutch naval personnel. The government-in-exile stamps were introduced in the Netherlands in May, 1945, and were valid until December 31, 1946.

To Luxembourg

The post card shown below was franked with the 7 1/2c denomination of the government-in-exile issue.

Amsterdam to Luxembourg Ville, June 15, 1945

7 1/2c international post card rate

"Nooduitgifte" post cards

Post cards with the term "Nooduitgifte" (emergency) were printed in the liberated zones starting in 1944. Different paper stocks were used in the printings. Nooduitgifte cards were in use after the war as well.

To Sweden