PostNL delays transition to three-day mail delivery

PostNL CEO Pim Berendsen has announced that the company will not be able to transition to a three-day mail delivery standard by 2027. Although the company previously received an agreement in The Hague to allow 72-hour delivery for letters and cards starting next July, the necessary legislative changes in the House of Representatives have not yet been finalized.

Berendsen expects the transition to occur no earlier than January 2028, allowing for necessary legislative processes and internal preparation time. The company cited declining mail volumes, which have made the legally mandated postal service loss-making.

To ensure long-term viability, PostNL is seeking further extensions of delivery terms and financial compensation from the government. The company recently requested 80 million euros for the coming year to cover rising costs associated with its statutory obligations. Legal proceedings are currently ongoing regarding previously denied subsidy requests for 2025 and 2026.