News item | 03-10-2025 | 15:15
The Dutch are attaching to reliable mail delivery. That you know on which day a letter arrives when you put it on the bus. At the same time, we are sending fewer and fewer letters and cards. That puts pressure on reliability and affordability. Adjustments are needed to ensure that the postal facility does not deteriorate further. That is why the government is taking a step to broaden the delivery time to a maximum of 48 hours (in 2026) and then 72 hours (in 2027). On the proposal of Minister Karremans of Economic Affairs, the Council of Ministers approved an adjustment of the Post Decree.
Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “The rules that we have now are outdated. The Dutch are going to send many fewer letters and cards. At the same time we want a party to carry out mail delivery excellent. I cannot ask a company to carry out a government manual with loss in the long term. That is why regulations must last with its time, and expand the loss of the time.”
What is changing?
- From July 1, 2026: Letters must be delivered within 2 days. If you do a letter on the bus on Monday, it will be on the mat on Tuesday or Wednesday.
- From July 1, 2027: it will be within 3 days. So a letter from Monday can be delivered on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
The mail still comes 5 days a week: Tuesday to Saturday. Nothing changes for mourning post and medical post: it is still delivered within 24 hours and 6 days a week.
Why this change?
- Because we send less mail, the costs rise and reliability is endangered.
- Research by the supervisor (ACM) shows that only broadening 1 day to 2 days is not enough to resolve this. With a period of 3 days, the postal facility can remain affordable and reliable.
- For example, senders and users already know where they are in the coming years.
By changing the Post Decree, Posts van Post already has clarity about the conditions for mail delivery in the coming years and they can prepare for this. Moreover, consumers and business users indicate that reliability is the most important thing for them. That improving is the most important goal of this adjustment.
Proposal to change the postal decision in internet consultation
Now that the Council of Ministers has agreed to amend the Post Decree – a general administrative order (AMvB) – this will be in internet consultation next week. The Minister of Economic Affairs then sends the change to the House of Representatives and for advice to the Council of State. By changing the Post Decree, it is possible to take the first necessary first steps to a reliable and affordable postal market.