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Sunday, 28 March 2021

1765) "Canal Houses", Netherlands: "Typically Dutch" Postage Stamp Series: A postage stamp of 1.00 Euro issued by PostNL depicting Houses alongside the Canal system in Amsterdam, Netherlands: Date of Stamp issue: 22.03.2021:

1765) "Canal Houses", Netherlands: "Typically Dutch" Postage Stamp Series: A  postage stamp of 1.00 Euro issued by PostNL depicting  Houses alongside the Canal system in Amsterdam, Netherlands: Date of Stamp issue: 22.03.2021:

About Typically Dutch - Canal Houses:

In 2021, the Typically Dutch Postage Stamp Series focuses on house types and façades that are typical for the Netherlands

This 22.03.2021 issue features Canal Houses in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's "grachtengordel" (or Canal District) was built in phases, which began by digging Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht in the early 17th century

From around 1660, the city extended the canals to the Amstel. 

Finally, around 1680, the Oostelijke Eilanden district was developed. This gave the map of Amsterdam its characteristic crescent shape.

 During the construction, there were lots of regulations promoting the construction of beautiful houses for the wealthy. The government provided solid quays and built elegant stone arched bridges to protect the city.

The traditional 17th century canal house was not very wide. The rooms were arranged one behind the other. The front part of the house was on the canal and next to it was a side room. Then came the inner room, which looked out onto a courtyard at the back. The corridor along the inner room led to the back room (called the ‘sael’) with a view of the garden. 

In the second half of the 18th century, many canal houses were raised and provided with contemporary façades. 

At the end of the 19th century, front doors were often moved from the piano nobile (Piano Nobile or "Noble Floor" in architecture, is main floor of a Renaissance building, where the main reception rooms were in an upper storey, usually the storey immediately above the base or ground floor) to the ground floor.

 Most canal houses have been renovated several times over time, resulting in the coexistence of many different architectural styles, façade types and window panes. 

In 2010, Amsterdam's canal district was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

Adds the UNESCO publication on UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES titled "TREASURES OF THE WORLD" in my personal library:

The historic urban ensemble of the canal district of Amsterdam was a project for a new "port city" built at the end of the sixteenth century and beginning of the seventeenth century.

It comprises a network of canals to the west and south of the historic old town and the medieval port that encircled the old town, and was accompanied by the repositioning inland of the city's fortified boundaries, the Singelgracht. 

This was a long term programme that involved extending the city by draining the swamp-land, using a system of canals in concentric arcs and filling in the intermediate spaces.

These spaces allowed the development of a homogeneous urban ensemble including gabled houses and numerous monuments. This urban extension was the largest and most homogeneous of its time.

It was a model of large-scale town planning, and served as a reference throughout the world until the nineteenth century.

The Dutch Golden Age began in the late sixteenth century. The profits from the worldwide trading networks built by the Dutch east India and west India Companies made Amsterdam not only a leading financial centre, but the world's richest city".

The Stamps:


A Miniature Sheet (MS) of six stamps of 1.00 Euro each. The inscriptions are "2021" (Year of issue), "NEDERLAND" ("Netherlands") and 1" (for denomination of stamp).

The First Day Cover (FDC) shows Canal Houses in Amsterdam at left.

At right is affixed the cancelled One Euro Postage Stamp. The special Cancellation Handstamp/Postmark is dated - "22.03.2021".


The Presentation Pack

Technical details:

Stamp Issue Date: 22.03.2021

Designer: Edwin van Praet

Printer: Cartor Security Printing, Meaucé-La Loupe, France

Process: Offset

Colours: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow And Black

Stamp Size: 40.00 mm x 30.00 mm







For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands and PostNL, please visit the following links:


9) "De Haar Castle", Utrecht, Netherlands: The first Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles" Coin Series: A silver ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Date/Year of Delivery: 04/2020

10) First Atlases, Netherlands: Commemorating 450 Years of the first Atlas (1570-2020) & others: A Stamp Sheet of six stamps depicting the Atlases which were compiled in the Netherlands in the 16th & 17th Centuries AD: Stamp Set issued by POstNL: Date of Stamp Set issue: 23.03.2020













Dutch Castles Coin Series:






For other interesting posts on Belgium & Luxembourg Coins and Stamps:


5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020

6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020

7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020






Links to other Posts on Aland issues:


2) Wildflowers, Aland Islands: A new Series of Franking Labels issued by Aland Post: Date of issue: 03.02.2020

Some other interesting Posts from Finland, Norway & Nordic Countries:



















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