80 years of freedom in Brabant
On September 17, 2024, PostNL issued the stamp sheet 80 Years of Freedom in Brabant. On that same date in 1944, Operation Market Garden began, the Allied operation to liberate the Netherlands from German occupation. The 80 Years of Freedom in Brabant stamp sheet features images of strategic bridges and dropping zones where paratroopers landed to capture the bridges.
80 years of freedom in Brabant
On September 12, 1944, the liberation of the Netherlands began with the advance of the American army in Limburg. With Operation Market Garden, parts of North Brabant and Gelderland were liberated starting September 17, 1944. Operation Market Garden consisted of two main components: the capture of important bridges by American, British, and Polish airborne troops (Market) to enable an attack by British ground troops supported by Canadian engineers (Garden). Although the Allied offensive stalled at Arnhem, parts of North Brabant, Limburg, and Gelderland did fall into Allied hands. From this area, the rest of North Brabant and Limburg were liberated in the following months. The stamp sheet features images of 5 contemporary bridges (Heusden Bridge, Princess Irene Brigade Bridge, John S. Thompson Bridge, Son Lifting Bridge, Maxwell Taylor Bridge) and 5 current topographical maps indicating dropping zones in North Brabant (in or near Heeswijk, Eerde, Grave, Son, and Velp).
The 80 Years of Freedom in Brabant stamp sheet contains 10 stamps in a landscape format. The 5 stamps on the left feature duotone (two-color) photographs of Brabant bridges that were of strategic importance during and after Operation Market Garden, which began on September 17, 1944. The 5 stamps on the right feature duotone images of road maps with a parachute symbol indicating the dropping zones where Allied paratroopers landed in September 1944. The topographical map continues across each tab on the right side of the stamp sheet. The tabs also list the geographical coordinates of the respective dropping zone. The photographs of the 5 bridges were taken for this stamp sheet in 2024 by photographer William Moore from Nijmegen. The maps are also based on the situation in 2024.
The design for the 80 Years of Freedom in Brabant stamp sheet was created by graphic designer Jan van Mechelen of ZEE [typo]graphic design in Rotterdam. Jan van Mechelen (Gouda, 1960) has been working as a designer under the name ZEE for over 25 years. The focus is on the [typo]graphic design of books, identities, exhibitions, and websites. ZEE is most active within the cultural sector but also works for the corporate world. ZEE collaborates extensively with specialists from its network. A love for typography, photography, and paper characterizes the work. Where necessary, ZEE connects the online and offline worlds. Clients include organizations such as the Chabot Museum Rotterdam, Conny Janssen Danst, Erasmus University, the Heineken Building Rotterdam, the Kunsthal Rotterdam, the Netherlands Photo Museum, Stadsherstel Historisch Rotterdam, and many individual artists. Currently, ZEE is working on the book design for a biography of shoe designer Charel Bermans, who celebrates his 75th birthday in 2025. ZEE previously designed stamp sheets for PostNL. 75 years of Solex Netherlands (2023) in Volvo Ocean Race Pitstop The Hague (2015).
Source used: PostNL
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