Aangetekend

Aangetekend is a Dutch term meaning registered or formally notified, used in postal and legal contexts. In postal service, aangetekende zending refers to a class of mail sent with additional security and accountability. Such items require the recipient's signature on delivery or at a pickup point and provide proof of sending and receipt. The service typically includes a tracking number, allowing sender and recipient to monitor progress. Aangetekende mail is more expensive and slower than ordinary mail, but offers greater assurance, making it common for important documents, contracts, notices, or court communications. If delivery cannot be completed, the carrier may leave a delivery notice and the item can be collected from a post office or service point.

In legal and administrative usage, aangetekend describes documents sent through formal channels to create a verifiable paper trail. Many jurisdictions in the Netherlands and Belgium either require or prefer aangetekende zending for service of legal documents, official notifications, or contractual terms. The term is widely understood in Dutch-speaking communities and is used to emphasize formality and certainty of sending and receipt.

Historically, the concept predates electronic delivery but today is often supported by barcode tracking and electronic records of receipt. The wording may appear on forms as aangetekend or aangetekende zending and is frequently paired with terms such as "handtekening voor ontvangst" or "ontvangstbewijs."