Commemorative Netherlands stamps issued between 1943 and 1945 can be a bit confusing without a little historical perspective. During this period, there were actually TWO entities called the Netherlands, and BOTH of them issued commemorative or propaganda postage stamps.
During 1939, at the beginning of World War II, the Netherlands had officially proclaimed their neutrality in the European
conflict. The Netherlands was also officially neutral during World War I, though many Dutch citizens joined the Belgian and French armies to fight against Germany during that war. At the end of World War I, the Netherlands had allowed the former German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to establish his residence-in-exile there, where he lived until his death in 1941.
This political neutrality didn't suit their Fascist German neighbors, who intended to make the Netherlands part of the Greater Third Reich. Germany invaded
the Netherlands in May 1940 and established an occupation government
there. The country was then ruled by a German-appointed governor and the Dutch National Socialist Party.
During the invasion, the Dutch royal family and the heads-of-government escaped to
Great Britain, where they formed a government-in-exile. Thus, there
were two political entities called the Netherlands, during the period from 1940 to 1944. Though the Netherlands had been occupied by Germany, the Dutch colonies around the World remained loyal, and they fought against the Axis powers with the Allied nations during World War II.
The Netherlands
was liberated by Allied forces during 1944 and 1945, and after the fall
of Germany in May 1945, Queen Wilhelmina and the legitimate government of the Netherlands
returned to power.
The seven (German occupation) Netherlands stamps shown above (NVPH #405-11, Sc. #245-51) were issued during 1943. The NVPH catalog refers to these stamps as the Germanic Symbols set.
The designs are as follows:
These stamps were also extensively used as regular definitive postage
stamps. As a result, they are all very common, both in mint condition
and in used condition.
The ten (German occupation) Netherlands stamps shown above (NVPH #412-21, Sc. #252-61) were issued during 1943 and 1944. The NVPH catalog refers to these stamps as the Naval Heroes set.
The designs are as follows.
These
stamps were also extensively used as regular definitive postage
stamps. As a result, they are all very common, both in mint condition
and in used condition.
The fifteen (government-in-exile) Netherlands stamps shown above (NVPH #428-42, Sc. #262-76) were printed in Great Britain and issued between 1944 and 1946. The NVPH catalog refers to these stamps as the Liberation Stamps set.
The designs are as follows:
These stamps were issued for use by Dutch naval and merchant vessels during the liberation of the Netherlands.
The following links feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop
for and to buy specific items for the
particular collecting subject they've just read about.
The
affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay,
Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this
website. On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.
Remember
that the lots on most of the European eBay sites are priced in EUROS. Shipping
charges may be more, and the lots may take longer to arrive. Also, make
sure the foreign seller ships to your country, before bidding on or
buying his lot.
Return to Netherlands Stamps from
Commemoratives of 1943-1945
The overprinted and re-valued (German occupation) Netherlands stamp shown above (NVPH #404, Sc. #244) was issued on January 15, 1943 to celebrate the Founding of the European Union of Posts and Telegraphs at Vienna on October 19, 1942.
The 7 1/2 C. denomination Netherlands stamp shown above (NVPH #443, Sc. #277) was issued on July 15, 1945 to celebrate the Defeat of Germany and the Liberation of the Netherlands.
The design depicts the Dutch lion slaying a dragon, symbolizing Nazi Germany.