Postcard from Amsterdam

Postcard from Holland is a regular feature on this blog. On Wednesdays I post a card from my collection of vintage postcards. Today: A postcard from Amsterdam.

The Oudezijds Voorburgwal, a typical street (with canal) in Amsterdam, at the beginning of the previous century (the card was sent in 1909). Note the handcars on the streets. Nowadays the street is lined with bicycles and cars, but the canal itself and its surroundings did not change much.

Have a look at the back of the card. The card could be sent as postcard (briefkaart) or as printed matter (drukwerk), at different postage rates, by crossing out either the first or the second line at the top of the card. When sending at the (slightly cheaper) printed matter rate, the sender was not allowed to write a message on the card - he could only leave his name and address at the bottom left.

There are usage instructions on the top left and right of the card. On the left, it reads Bij verzending als briefkaart (niet als drukwerk) mag deze ruimte voor correspondentie gebruikt worden: When sending as postcard (not as printed matter) this space can be used for correspondence. On the right, at the place of the stamp, we find the text Bij verzending als "drukwerk" de woorden briefkaart postkarte enz. doorschrappen en alleen naam en datum er op schrijven: When sending as "printed matter" strike out the words briefkaart postkarte etc. and only write name and date on it.

The stamp on the card is now lost, presumably removed by a stamp collector.