On 8 June 2026, PostNL released 't Oude Ambaght, a frame stamp sheet (kaderpostzegelvel) featuring 10 different stamps with prints by the 17th-century etcher Jan Luyken, drawn from the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The stamps bear the denomination 1 for domestic mail up to 20 grams within the Netherlands.
With a circulation of just 6,000 sheets, this is one of the most limited PostNL issues of 2026 — making it a highly sought-after piece for collectors of Dutch postal history, frame stamps, and historical themes.
Old Crafts — A Forgotten Heritage
An "ambacht" (craft) is a trade practised by hand with manual tools, where craftsmanship is paramount. Crafts that have fallen out of everyday use and are now pursued almost exclusively as hobbies or specialist professions are called "oude ambachten" (old crafts). The 10 stamps on the 't Oude Ambaght sheet depict 10 different old crafts, each one brought to life through Jan Luyken's masterful 17th-century etchings.
The images come from the Rijksprentenkabinet (National Print Room) of the Rijksmuseum, one of the world's foremost collections of Dutch Golden Age prints and drawings.
Design: Studio026
The stamp sheet was designed by Studio026 from Velp. Designer Anne Schaufeli explains: "We first inventoried which old crafts existed. Many are well-known, but some evoke an 'oh yes!' reaction when you read about them. During that research, we came across Jan Luyken's prints. We wanted to capture the nostalgic feeling that old crafts often evoke, and these 17th-century prints convey that perfectly."
The team carefully curated a mix of fine handiwork and heavier labour, balancing familiar and lesser-known crafts. They also considered composition — whether the figures are sitting or standing, which direction they face — to create visual harmony across the sheet.
The Lace Border Pattern
On the sheet border, lace-making patterns (kantklospatronen) are featured. "Lace-making is also an old craft, so it fits perfectly," says Schaufeli. "We chose to show not the finished lace but the lace pattern — the working drawing used by lace makers. We were inspired by existing patterns and created a new design from them."
Drawing this pattern on the computer was painstaking work, especially because the stamp sheet is not symmetrical and different patterns had to merge seamlessly. The pattern partially continues onto the stamps themselves, creating a visual connection across the entire sheet. To stay in style, the stamps were given a scalloped edge. The designers used the Akzidenz Grotesk typeface to balance the decorative lace border with clean, modern typography.
Technical Specifications
| Issue Date | 8 June 2026 |
| Issuing Authority | PostNL |
| Sheet Circulation | 6,000 sheets |
| Stamp Size | 30 × 40 mm |
| Sheet Size | 170 × 122 mm |
| Number of Stamps | 10 (10 different designs) |
| Denomination | 1 (domestic mail up to 20 g) |
| Paper | Normal with phosphor coating |
| Gumming | Gummed |
| Printing Technique | Offset |
| Printing Colours | CMYK |
| Images | Prints by Jan Luyken from the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam |
| Designer | Studio026, Velp |
| Printer | Koninklijke Joh. Enschede |
| Article Number | 860038 |
| Retail Price | €14.00 |
Why This Issue Matters
The 't Oude Ambaght sheet stands out for several reasons. Its extremely limited circulation of just 6,000 sheets makes it one of the rarest PostNL issues of 2026 — comparable to exclusive Collect Club editions. The use of authentic Jan Luyken etchings from the Rijksmuseum gives it significant cultural and historical weight, while Studio026's thoughtful design — blending 17th-century art with a decorative lace border — creates a visually stunning philatelic product.
For collectors of Dutch stamps, frame stamps (kaderpostzegels), historical themes, or museum collaborations, this sheet is an essential addition. The combination of Old Master art, vanishing crafts, and meticulous contemporary design makes 't Oude Ambaght a genuine highlight of PostNL's 2026 programme.