Belgian postal stationery

Abstract

The standard reference work for Belgian Postal Stationery is "Les Entiers Postaux de Belgique" published by the Postal Stationery Society of Belgium with the support of Pro-Post, available in French or Dutch. In order to fully understand the complexity of Belgian Postal Stationery it is necessary to understand the country's history. Belgium is a relatively new country on the European scene with most of modern Belgium forming part of the Southern Netherlands, a part of the Low Countries or "Pays-Bas". The Southern Netherlands were controlled in turn by Spain (Spanish Netherlands 1579-1713) and then Austria (Austrian Netherlands 1713-94) before being captured by the French in 1794 and annexed to France. The Netherlands (Holland) overthrew French rule in 1813 and became known as the "United Provinces of the Netherlands". [excerpt]