Brievenpost

Brievenpost is a term used to describe the portion of a postal system that handles letters and written correspondence. In traditional postage terminology, brievenpost covers standard mail items such as personal letters, business letters, and printed matter sent domestically or abroad, as distinct from packages or newspapers.

The term stems from the Dutch words brief (letter) and post (mail). It has historical roots in European postal services and historically referred to the regular, scheduled delivery of letters. In the Netherlands, brievenpost has long been integral to the national postal system and is now part of the broader services offered by the state or national operators, such as PostNL, within international postal frameworks.

Operationally, brievenpost includes items that comply with size and weight limits for letters. Postage is typically prepaid with stamps or meter marks. Letters are sorted by destination at centralized facilities and delivered by route-based carriers. Special services within brievenpost include registered or aangetekende post, which provides tracking and added security, as well as insured or express options in some contexts.

In contemporary practice, the popularity of brievenpost has been affected by digital communication and electronic messaging, leading to a decline in ordinary letter volumes in many countries. Nevertheless, brievenpost remains important for certain types of formal notices, legal documents, and personal correspondence. Postal systems continue to maintain distinct categorizations for letters and parcels, with separate pricing, service levels, and regulatory requirements.

See also: PostNL, postal services, mail, stamped mail, registered mail.