Belgium’s postal service, bpost, has marked the 20th anniversary of Postcrossing – the global postcard exchange project – with the release of a colourful new stamp issue designed to capture the spirit of international connection.
Issued on June 16, the release features a special minisheet of five stamps styled to resemble a postcard. Each stamp illustrates a cheerful moment in the life of a postcard – from writing and mailing to delivery – making it a fitting tribute to the millions of cards exchanged through Postcrossing since the platform’s founding in 2005.
The minisheet includes text in both Dutch and French, reflecting Belgium’s bilingual culture. A bilingual first-day cancellation mark, featuring a dotted “P” symbol, was also created to commemorate the occasion. Collectors can also obtain a first-day cover, which pairs the minisheet with contextual information presented in an eye-catching blue airmail format.
A launch event and Postcrossing meetup were held at the bpost Philaboutique in Brussels on issue day. The stamps are now available at Belgian post offices and through bpost’s online store at bpost.be.
Postcrossing, a non-commercial project founded in Portugal, has enabled over 70 million postcards to be exchanged by members from more than 200 countries. For Belgian participants and fans around the world, the new stamps provide a philatelic way to celebrate two decades of global postcard friendship.