70 years of Europa stamps (1956): United in…

In 2026, EUROPA Stamps celebrates its 70th anniversary. This philatelic initiative was founded to strengthen ties between European countries and to promote lasting peace and unity. The first stamps were issued in 1956 by six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, the founding members of the European Union. Currently, 53 postal organizations are involved. The winning stamp was designed by Klaus Welp. The stamp will be issued throughout Europe for the 2026 edition. What does the designer intend to depict with 70 years of PostEurop? In this blog, we present the Belgian 2026 issue with an additional stamp design.

Winning design 70 years of PostEurop

Posti has won the EUROPA stamp design competition for 2026, with the theme “ United in diversity & uniqueness ”. The winning stamp was designed by Klaus Welp. The stamp will be issued throughout Europe for the 2026 edition. The EUROPA stamps have been issued since 1956, so next year marks the stamps' 70th anniversary. The issuance of the stamps is coordinated by PostEurop, an association of European postal companies. This association currently consists of 53 postal organizations from Europe.

Visual artist Klaus Welp is delighted with the success and the fact that the winning stamp will be issued throughout Europe. “In today’s turbulent world, there is a growing need for peace, unity, and a strong sense of community. A well-functioning national postal service is a fundamental pillar for democracies and offers security to citizens. It was an honor to participate in this design competition and to celebrate PostEurop’s 70th anniversary with this stamp. It is good to know that this stamp will be printed and issued in so many European countries,” said Klaus Welp.

The design of the 2026 EUROPA stamp combines abstract and symbolic elements. The seven dots , connected by a straight line, symbolize seventy years of joint efforts by postal companies across the continent. The background reflects a cheerful color combination of the European flag, symbolizing the unity of all member states. “I explored various visual concepts for the stamp. Together with Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, we refined one of these concepts into the final winning proposal. With over twenty years of collaboration and more than 120 stamp projects to our name, our teamwork has once again led to a successful result.” Tommi Kantola considers the victory to be very significant. “This victory in the design competition is historic, because now all 53 European postal services will publish the winning design with their own country designations,” Kantola exclaims. What makes the victory special is that the vote was based solely on the images, without any information about which country each design represented. European postal organizations voted for the winner from 15 proposals. “The symbolism of the design was understood by the voters and led to the victory. The win also reflects the appreciation for and the high standard of Finnish graphic design,” according to Kantola.

The 2026 EUROPA stamp will be released exceptionally via this design competition. Normally, European postal organizations issue a stamp each year with a jointly chosen theme. Each country then issues a thematic stamp in a manner of its own choosing, after which a competition is held between the designs. Stamps issued by Posti have won the European vote multiple times in recent years. Stamps released with the same theme emphasize the shared European roots, culture, and history of different countries, while simultaneously showcasing their national differences.

 

Published since 1956 (Netherlands and Belgium)

Europa stamps are stamps issued since 1956 by various countries in Europe around the same theme and, in some cases, featuring the same image. The first stamps (theme: Europe Under Construction) were issued in 1956 by six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In the period 1956–1973 and 1984, the stamps of most participating countries featured the same image in every issue.

Over time, the coordination of the issuance of Europa stamps was the responsibility of three different organizations:

• 1956-1959: European Coal and Steel Community
• 1960-1992: CEPT
• 1993-present: PostEurop, part of the Universal Postal Union.

In the periods 1956–1973 and 1978–1993, the Netherlands participated in the issuance of Europa stamps every year. Since 2002, the Netherlands has participated irregularly. In 2002, two Europa stamps representing the European Union cooperation appeared with the theme Circus, in the form of pairs, which alternately consisted of 3 pairs, one below the other on a small sheet, with the then already familiar blue priority tab on either side of each pair.

In addition, the postal authority developed a system in which rates were established for the weight of items to be sent within the Netherlands, outside the Netherlands but within Europe, and outside Europe. These self-adhesive stamps, usually issued in booklets, also featured their blue tab, which, together with the value on the stamp, indicated its scope. Today, we know the later generation of that development with value designations simply of “1, 2, or 3”. These functional stamps are sometimes confused with the Europa stamps in the sense of CEPT, an association that, once born out of economic pragmatism, still serves postal cooperation today. It remains a popular collecting subject among philatelists.

Since 1956, Belgium has participated in the issuance of Europa stamps every year.

 

Belgium (2026): Stamps as unique as DNA

For the 70th anniversary of the EUROPA stamp, Belgium chose a powerful design by Wim Vandersleyen, in which DNA markers take center stage. “The idea surfaced immediately. It just felt right.” Anyone taking a look at the Belgian entry for the 2026 EUROPA stamp sees immediately: this has been well thought out. The deep, dark blue background refers to the flag of the European Union. Subtle DNA structures dance upon it, symbolizing what binds us and distinguishes us. A visual translation of the theme “United in diversity & uniqueness”.

( a. Stamp composed of DNA markers, that which binds us but also distinguishes us, to visualize common roots and unique cultures. – Design: Wim Vandersleyen. b. Stamp featuring a central dotted line symbolizing 70 years, as well as a nod to perforation and the rise of PostEurop. The background is composed of patterns with colors from the European flags, forming a vibrant whole.)

From idea to stamp

Wim has been familiar with designing stamps since 2014, but this issue was special. “I was just working on the series commemorating 600 years of KU Leuven when the theme 'EUROPA' came up. That anniversary year piqued my curiosity.” The idea of ​​the DNA markers came quickly. “In the first design session, I immediately had a good feeling. We looked at alternatives, but the original concept remained the strongest. The symbolism was right, the composition worked, and it felt as if everything fell into place.” The path from briefing to finished stamp is one of collaboration and adjustment. “Once the concept is approved by bpost, it is submitted to the Philatelic Committee. Their advice is not binding, but it is a valuable sounding board,” Wim explains. “After that, it is mainly about fine-tuning: ensuring that every element is technically correct, every letter, every line. On that small surface, literally every millimeter counts.”

Small but powerful

The Belgian stamp is part of a duo sheet, alongside the winning design by the Finn Klaus Welp. “An interesting choice,” says Wim. “By showing both designs together, you emphasize the European interplay: connectedness and individuality.” He is complimentary but honest about his Finnish colleague: “Visually strong, absolutely. Although I find the content quite abstract. To me, a stamp must say something, tell a story that touches or stimulates the viewer.” He is certain that a stamp can have that power. “The format is small, but the message can be big. That is precisely why it is important that a stamp is recognizable, legible, and symbolically rich. For me, that is always the starting point. Form follows function.”

 

Bron: Philanews (bpost)