Stamp Stories from around the world

Until 1795 the Netherlands was a republic comprising a federation of seven autonomous provinces. During the French occupation, the Dutch Republic was transformed into a modern unitary state, the Batavian Republic (1795-1806). It then became a Kingdom, when the Emperor Napoleon installed his brother Louis as King of Holland (1806-1810). The Netherlands regained its independence in 1813, and the first Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands dates from 1814. In 1913 The Netherlands issued four stamps depicting the three kings and the queen who has reigned The Netherlands since gaining independence in 1813. Todays stamp is the 2,50 guilders issue depicting King Willem II (1792-1949). CV is 140 euros for a mint copy.