Stamps with a Story: Camping, Children & Wheelchair Inclusion

Camping, children's stamps, and wheelchair inclusion — three seemingly disparate subjects that come together in a surprising way. In 2025, a new stamp sheet will be released centering on the theme of Camping in the Netherlands, in which even a wheelchair user is given a prominent place. This evokes memories of earlier stamps, such as the children's stamps of 2006, which featured sporty children from various cultures — including a young badminton player in a wheelchair. This blog dives into the world of thematic stamps and highlights how inclusion and holiday fun go hand in hand in imagery and message. Camping in the Netherlands 2025 Camping is a beloved way of vacationing in our country, offering a chance to enjoy freedom, conviviality, and the outdoors, ranging from a simple trekking tent to a super-luxury camper. * My provisional interpretation: “On the new stamp sheet 'Camping in the Netherlands,' I see fair-weather clouds in sticker form. The small stamp sheet provides a particularly varied and spacious illustration of campers in a variety of accommodations.” * Striking is the presence of a wheelchair user by a camper in the foreground, which corresponds to the 10-year-old badminton player in a wheelchair on the right tab of the 2006 children's stamp issue (see next sub-chapter). Wheelchair user as a thematic philatelic subject I was surprised by the presence of a wheelchair user on these new stamps. Only after consulting the Special Catalogue 2025 did I discover that wheelchair users have appeared on Dutch stamps before. * On the right tab: children's stamps 2006 with 10-year-old Pieter Bas Graaf (Rotterdam Metylschool) * Red Cross 1972: aid for wheelchair users * Paralympics 1980: Olympic Games for the disabled * Children's stamp 2023: wheelchair in LEGO version * Landscape inaccessible to the disabled 1977 * 100 years NOC – NSF 1012 with wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer * Sporttop 2009 with Aniek van Koot, wheelchair tennis player Children's Stamps 2006: moving forward safely Design agency COMA (COrnelia Blatter & MArcel Hermans) was commissioned to visualize the theme 'Veilig Verder' (Moving Forward Safely) using photography for the design of the 2006 children's stamps. The design duo decided to take the imagery of safety as the shining starting point for their design. According to their conclusion, children only feel safe when they play together. In doing so, they are happy, cheerful, and enthusiastically involved with complete dedication. Three schools provide photo models – The photos of the children were taken at three different schools: two in Rotterdam (Juliana School & Mytyl School 'De Brug') and one in Lisserbroek (Catholic Primary School 'De Reiger'). The student population of both Rotterdam schools corresponds to that of neighborhoods with a multicultural character, in contrast to that of the village school in Lisserbroek. – The photo models come from twelve different countries. With the great variety of pupils on these children's stamps, the design duo attractively demonstrates the universally connecting nature of play and sport. – A journalist from the Haarlems Dagblad (November 4, 2006) interviewed six young pupils from the village school in Lisserbroek as photo models. They had to pose for hours facing the viewer in front of the camera. Children's stamp sheet 'Safe and Sound' The children in brightly colored clothing in the top row of stamps differ in stance, posture, and action from those in the bottom row. The portraits placed close together thus form a group of playing children who seem to be coming towards you and could step right out of the picture. Walking, jumping, skipping, and moving with a ball, jump rope, or tennis racket in sports and play, they symbolize all the children in the world who can develop in a healthy, secure, and safe environment. Children only become active when they feel at ease, secure, and safe. Thus, a 'Safe Forward' stamp sheet is created featuring two rows of 24 future-oriented children, in which the concept of time can be discovered through the successive actions. View the theme of this children's stamp sheet as a continuation of last year's (2005) theme, which was 'Safe and Well'. Leapfrog involves a role-playing exchange. Further explanation per children's stamp: 1 bowling / rolling: Kimberley Rongen (Netherlands). 2 skating: Mohammed Laachah (Morocco). 3 football: Khalil el Amiri (Morocco). 4 ring toss: Yousra Kallis (Morocco). 5 keepy-uppy: Jacob John (India). 6 balance biking: Graciano Vcederburg (Suriname). 7 jump rope: 7-year-old Diana Minasian (India). “I was in my element. I want to become a fashion model later. That came about because of this photo session in Rotterdam.” 8 leapfrog with 9: 11-year-old Iris Ditmar (yellow blouse, Netherlands). Kelly and I think differently: “Ugh, then you always have to put on those stupid and colorful clothes and walk very weirdly too. That’s not for me.” 9 leapfrog with 8: 11-year-old Kelly van Kesteren (red pants, Netherlands). We took turns being the buck during leapfrog. I think we had to do it at least a hundred times. I can't imagine I'll still enjoy that in a few years. 10 playing with a large doll: Katia Tavares Horta (Cape Verde). 11 skateboarding: 9-year-old Dion Mainasian (Iraq). Posing with a skateboard: “I had to make all kinds of movements and sometimes stand still.” 12 hooping with a hula hoop: Charissa Martis (Netherlands Antilles). 13 heading a ball: Diederik Jongste (Netherlands). 14 hitting a ball with a racket: Demi Tran (Vietnam). 15 leapfrog with 16: Raishel Brigitta (Netherlands Antilles). 16 leapfrog with 15: Shairon Kalmer (Netherlands Antilles)board. The expression on the faces of all the children looking into the photographer's lens is cheerful, just like that of 10-year-old Pieter in the wheelchair as a badminton player for the Metylschool 'De Brug' in Rotterdam. 17 bouncing a ball with a racket: Priscal Koy (Congo). 18 jump rope: Merve Ozurk (Turkey). 19 skating: Benali (Morocco). 20 balance biking: Festus Omosigho (Nigeria). 21 bouncy balls: 9-year-old Eric Wassink (Turkey). As a footballer for FC Lisse, he really wanted to have his picture taken with the ball that was brought along, but there was already someone else with a football. Consequently, he had to sit on the set with a bouncy ball and jump around. 22 playing with a bear: 6-year-old Fleur Walkier (Netherlands). She is the youngest of the group, so I had to throw a bear into the air. Not just any bear, but Flip, the school mascot, who gets to go home on a rotating basis. I also had to do a bit of jumping while doing it. The session took about half an hour.” 23 Badminton by wheelchair user: 10-year-old Pieter Bas Graafland (Netherlands). He is a student at the Rotterdam Metylschool 'De Brug'. Pieter has developed a brain division, which prevents the coordination of the muscular system from functioning optimally. 24 Juggling with clubs: Jennifer Rongen (Cape Verde). 25 Bouncing balls: Mayra da Silva van Dierendon (Brazil).