Frame Stamps: The Old Craftsmanship

On June 8, 2026, PostNL issued the 't Oude Ambacht framed stamp sheet, featuring 10 different stamps with prints by the seventeenth-century etcher Jan Luyken, which belong to the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. An artisan is a trade in which work is done by hand using hand tools and where craftsmanship is important. Crafts that have fallen into disuse and are performed almost exclusively as a hobby or in a highly specialized manner are called 'old crafts'. The 10 stamps on the 't Oude Ambacht framed stamp sheet depict 10 different old crafts.

The Old Ambaght 

A craft is a trade in which work is done by hand using hand tools and where craftsmanship is important. Crafts that have fallen into disuse and are now performed almost exclusively as a hobby or in a highly specialized manner are called 'old crafts'. The 10 stamps on the 't Oude Ambacht framed stamp sheet depict 10 different old crafts. The images are from the Print Collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Jan Luyken

A craft is a trade in which work is done by hand using hand tools and where craftsmanship is important. Crafts that have fallen into disuse and are now performed almost exclusively as a hobby or in a highly specialized manner are called 'old crafts'. The 10 stamps on the 't Oude Ambacht framed stamp sheet depict 10 different old crafts.

Rijksmuseum

The images originate from the Print Cabinet of the Rijksmuseum. With approximately 750.000 pieces, the collection of works on paper (fifteenth century to the present) in the Print Cabinet is the museum's largest. The prints by Jan Luyken featured on the stamps can be viewed in great detail (in high resolution) via the Rijksmuseum website.

The 10 old crafts

The following old crafts are depicted on the stamps:

1. The chair maker specializes in making and restoring wooden chairs.

2. The oil producer presses oil from vegetable seeds (such as rapeseed or flaxseed) and nuts in an oil mill.

3. The pewterer makes and works pewter objects, such as jugs, plates, bowls, and cups.

4. The potter shapes pots and bowls from clay and bakes them in an oven.

5. The Saalemaaker makes saddles for horses.

6. The plate printer makes prints of images or texts by pressing a prepared plate with ink onto paper using a hand press.

7. The basket maker weaves baskets of straw, willow twigs, reeds, or rattan.

8. The balance maker manufactures balances, consisting of two scales that are balanced, for example in shops, with goods on one side and weights on the other.

9. The comb maker makes hair combs of wood, horn, or bone.

10. The papermaker creates paper using a scooping frame from a vat of pulp, which consists of fibers from wood, rags, or waste paper.

New promising professions: veterinary assistant, budget consultant, and second-hand sales assistant

In the Netherlands, UWV annually maps out which professions offer good opportunities. Developments in the construction industry, an increase in the number of pets, and AI have influenced this year's list of promising professions. New construction professions, such as bricklayers and joint fillers, stand out in particular, partly due to increasing new construction. Additionally, demand is growing for veterinary assistants, budget consultants, and facility managers, among others. The latest list, containing over 300 professions, shows that many professions remain in structural demand, but also that new professions are added every year while others face less prospect.

Stef Molleman, labor market advisor at UWV: 'The list offers perspective to anyone looking to explore new work; we provide insight into professions with both good and poor job prospects.'

Construction

Although there has always been plenty of work in the construction industry, three major developments have added many promising new professions. Molleman: 'Due to the booming new construction sector, the expansion of the electricity grid, and the necessary maintenance of bridges and roads, professions such as bricklayers, road construction machine operators, and construction assistants have become promising.'

More pets and more problematic debts

Since the coronavirus pandemic, more and more people have started getting pets. Almost half of Dutch households now own a pet. Veterinarians and pet shops are therefore busy. This means good job opportunities for veterinary assistants and sales staff specializing in animals and pet supplies. There are also many people with problematic debts. In addition to administrators, budget consultants and debt counselors have now also become promising candidates.

Shopping street remains popular

There are also good job opportunities for managers of fashion stores and jewelers, among others. 'In addition, the second-hand segment has become very popular,' says Molleman. 'For instance, the number of second-hand clothing stores has increased significantly. Besides online platforms, physical stores are also in demand. 'Vintage stores' are popping up everywhere. As a result, there are good opportunities for second-hand sales assistants.'

AI developments

Professions also disappear from the list every year. This is due, for example, to a decrease in demand for personnel or because a profession has become more popular among job seekers. For instance, AI has already had a negative impact on the job prospects of graphic designers, translators, and copywriters. Molleman: 'Now, opportunities have also diminished in the customer contact and advertising world, where tasks can be partially taken over by AI. In addition to language and creative professions being vulnerable, there is also less work for account managers in advertising because assignments may dry up. Regarding customer contact, AI-driven chatbots are taking over part of the work.'

View promising professions with career choice

Molleman: 'Most of the professions on the list have been promising for years. The expectation is that many of these professions will remain so. For example, this often concerns professions in construction, transport, healthcare, and hospitality.'

Job seekers can find professions with high job prospects through UWV's career guidance tool. With the online tool Beroepskeuze, they can find a suitable profession in their own region. Job seekers can also discover which promising professions are similar to their current profession, and which professions align with their qualities and skills. Go to the Beroepskeuze page (werk.nl). Or visit Werkcentrum.nl, where you will find information on where to go with questions in your region.

Source: UWV.nl

View more handicraft art on stamps in the Freestampcatalogue here.

Please note: Framed stamps as described in this article are not included in stamp catalogues or albums.