prentbriefkaarten

Prentbriefkaarten, literally “print postcards” in Dutch, refer to a class of illustrated postcards produced mainly in the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium (Flanders) from the late 19th to the early 20th century. They differ from later photo postcards in that the image on the front was created as a pre-printed illustration, often lithographed or chromolithographed, rather than a photographic image. The subjects varied widely, including landscapes, city views, historical scenes, folklore, humor, and promotional advertising.

The design typically featured a printed image on the front while the back offered space for a short message and the recipient’s address; in some issues the back was divided to separate writing space from the address. Prentbriefkaarten were part of a broader wave of mass-produced illustrated postcards that accompanied expanding postal networks and leisure travel. They were published and distributed by a range of printers and publishers, and circulated both domestically and internationally, sometimes with captions in Dutch and other languages.

Collecting and study of prentbriefkaarten focus on printing techniques, the artist or photographer credit, the publisher, regional scenes, and postmarks or stamps. Condition, rarity, subject matter, and dating influence value among collectors. Today they are of interest to philatelists and social historians as sources on popular culture, urban development, and advertising of their era, providing insight into everyday life in Dutch-speaking regions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.