Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “The rules we currently have are outdated. The Dutch have significantly reduced the number of letters and cards they send. At the same time, we want one provider to excel in mail delivery. I cannot ask a company to execute a government directive at a loss in the long term. Therefore, regulations must keep pace with the times, and I am slightly relaxing the rules to ensure reliable mail delivery.”

What is changing?

  • From July 1, 2026: letters must be delivered within 2 days. If you send a letter on Monday, it will arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday.
  • From July 1, 2027: this will extend to 3 days. So a letter sent on Monday could be delivered on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Mail will still be delivered 5 days a week: from Tuesday to Saturday. There will be no changes for funeral and medical mail: those will still be delivered within 24 hours and 6 days a week.

Why this change?

  • As we send less mail, costs rise and reliability is jeopardized.
  • Research by the regulator (ACM) shows that simply extending the delivery time from 1 day to 2 days is not enough to solve this issue. A 3-day timeframe can keep mail services affordable and reliable.
  • This way, senders and users already know what to expect in the coming years.

By changing the Postal Decision, senders of mail will have clarity about the conditions for mail delivery in the coming years and can prepare accordingly. Moreover, consumers and business users indicate that reliability is the most important factor for them. Improving this is the primary goal of this adjustment.

Proposal to amend the Postal Decision in internet consultation

Now that the council of ministers has agreed to amend the Postal Decision – a General Administrative Regulation (AMvB) – it will enter internet consultation this week. Subsequently, the Minister of Economic Affairs will send the amendment to the House of Representatives and for advice to the Council of State. By amending the Postal Decision, it is possible to take the first necessary steps towards a reliable and affordable mail market.