Denmark collectors, your album is about to reach a definitive end. The state postal service of Denmark, PostNord, has announced it will cease handling letters in Denmark at the end of 2025 "to focus on becoming the Danes’ favorite parcel delivery service." The cut in service is tied to a reported 90% decline in letter volumes since 2000.
Postnord has also announced that any postage stamps bought in 2024 or after could be refunded for a limited time in 2026, presumably marking the end of the country's stamp issues.
Denmark's Transport Minister, Thomas Danielsen, told Danes concerned about the future of their mail that "a free market" would ensure they could still send letters, just not through a national postal service. This would mark the true end of universal postal service in the country, which officially ended in 2023.
The cuts will also result in layoffs at PostNord in Denmark, reportedly 1,500 employees from a workforce of 4,600.
"It's a super sad day. Not just for our department, but for the 1,500 who face an uncertain future," employee Anders Raun Mikkelsen told Danish broadcaster DR.
An increase in use of digitial communication is largely cited as the reason for the decline in number of letters sent in the country. However, Denmark's Postal Act of 2024 also allowed private firms to enter the postal arena, and inland letters are no longer exempt from value-added tax, or VAT, meaning that a letter cost Danes 29 krone ($4.20) to send.
The BBC reports that the decision will have the largest impact on elderly Danes, who are least likely to have adopted digital methods of communication.
"There are many who are very dependent on letters being delivered regularly. These include hospital appointments, vaccinations or decisions regarding home care," Marlene Rishoj Cordes, from Aeldre Sagen (DaneAge) told Denmark's TV2.
Exceptions were previously made for populations in remote areas and with vision impairment, but PostNord's statement does not suggest that will be the case again. The statement also does not directly say whether letters can be sent from other countries to Denmark; however, at this time we can only infer that international letters will not be accepted or distributed.
PostNord's statement notes that the decision does not affect its mail business in Sweden, where they are still required by law to provide universal postal service. This statement is a strong data point for those who oppose privatization of the mail in any country; where universal postal service is required by law, it remains as a public service for the public good. When those laws are stripped away, as it is rumored they may be in the U.S., the elderly, the disabled, and yes, philatelists, will pay the price.
Want to tell us what you think about this decision from Denmark and PostNord? Drop us a line at digitalcontent@stamps.org.