Next day PostNL mail gets much more expensive
Next day mail through PostNL will become much more expensive from 12 July, while standard letters move to a two day delivery window.
Sending mail for next-day delivery through PostNL will become much more expensive from 12 July.
From that date, standard letter mail in the Netherlands will be delivered within two delivery days instead of one. The normal stamp price will remain 1.40 euros. But people who want faster delivery will need to pay much more.
The biggest public concern is about mourning cards. These are still widely used in the Netherlands to inform family, friends and neighbours about a death and a funeral. From 12 July, mourning post that needs to arrive within one day will cost 3.25 euros per letter.
Other priority letters will also become more expensive. For those, an extra 70 cents will be added on top of the faster rate. That brings some urgent next-day mail close to 4 euros.
PostNL says the change is needed because the number of letters has fallen sharply. Over the past twenty years, letter volumes have dropped by about 70 percent. At the same time, PostNL still has a legal duty to deliver mail across the country.
The company says the current system is losing money. It reported a 35 million euro loss on the legally required postal service in 2025. PostNL says the postal rules are outdated and that further political decisions are needed before the summer.
For many people, the change will barely matter. Most daily communication now happens through email, WhatsApp, apps and digital government portals.
But for some groups, it matters a lot. Funeral homes, printers, medical senders, small businesses and older residents still depend on physical mail. For them, the move from one day to two days can create planning problems.
The issue is also emotional. Mourning cards are not just practical notices. In Dutch culture, they are part of the grieving process. They give people a physical message and often become a keepsake.
Expats may notice the change when dealing with official mail, family notices or small business communication. It is also a reminder that not everything in the Netherlands is fully digital, even if many services feel that way.
From July, people will need to choose between standard mail at the same price and faster delivery at a much higher cost. The practical rule is simple: send important physical mail earlier, or expect to pay more.
