Mariska Boer from Leusden is a comedian and absolutely loves writing and sending Christmas cards. It is therefore not for nothing that this was Mariska six years ago Mariska’s Card Promotion has started. “NBesides that I enjoy writing them, I also get super nice reactions to my cards! Of course I always stick a merry December stamp on it.“
Because Mariska can work fully again this year, writing Christmas cards can sometimes be missed. “But if I start writing on time, all I have to do is put them on the bus later. Also, I did the writing. And I make them extra personal with the December stamps from PostNL. I usually have one or two left from last year, but because I know I will be writing a lot again, I always get a few extra sheets.” In addition, Mariska gives the envelopes a personal touch touch by sealing them with wax and a seal.”
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Never skipped a year
Mariska has been writing Christmas cards since the last year of primary school. “Since then I have never skipped a year. I like to connect people. I do that in the hall when I perform, in my private life and through my card campaign.”
Mariska did not just start that action. “At first I thought it was a shame to throw away old maps. If you can make someone else happy with it, don’t you? In addition, I had a hard time during the corona time because I couldn’t perform, that’s why I loved being able to write Christmas cards.” That way she could still connect with people from the neighborhood. “At that time I also had a part-time job as a postman and a neighborhood of 475 addresses. During my rounds I regularly heard how many people are alone during the holidays.”
“I didn’t like that thought,” says Mariska. “That’s why I started collecting empty Christmas cards from residents of my neighborhood. Because there was enough enthusiasm for writing the cards, only the Christmas cards themselves were missing. They then hung these tickets in a bag on the front door, so that I could take them with me during my round. It was so well received that I entered no time had a very large pile that I could deliver to nursing homes and others in my region.”
The reactions of the recipients
That pile has grown to 5,600 Christmas cards. She herself wrote about thirty of these. “I really enjoy writing Christmas cards, but I also had to arrange so much for the campaign, so I didn’t have much time to write myself.” She also received a reply to a lot of the Christmas cards she sent. “One was more fun than the other.”
Mariska will always remember one card from a stranger. “The sender, an elderly lady, wrote that the card had arrived right on time. Her husband had just been admitted to the care home and this was her first Christmas alone. That’s why the ticket meant a lot to her.”
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Order or buy your December stamps now
Do you also want to send a Christmas card to a family member, friend, colleague or stranger? Then do that with the December stamps from PostNL. Each year these are designed in collaboration with a different artist. This year illustrator Miriam Bos designed the stamps.
The cheerful design makes your Christmas and New Year’s wishes extra festive. Buy two sheets now and receive a free unique Christmas bauble, which was designed in collaboration with Vondels Amsterdam (!). Note: apply promotional conditions and on = on. You can buy the December stamps up to and including 6 January at a PostNL point, or order them online in the PostNL webshop.
Below you can see the ten December stamps designed by PostNL. Which is your favourite?
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