A.B.D. Algemeene Besteldienst - stadspost in the Netherlands
The earliest 'stadspost' known in the Netherlands was started in the second half of the past century (1865) in the cities of Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam, using the name "Nederlandsche Maatschappij tot Algemeene Dienstverrigting" (Netherlands Company of Public Services).
Very little is known of how long these services were in operation. On July 1, 1896, the "Algemeene Besteldienst ABD" was started within the city limits of the city of Amsterdam. The corporation was managed by a Mr. A. de Leur. This delivery service offered different services such as delivering messages, freight and parcel, circulares from house to house, express and C.O.D. deliveries. The service had 130 offices, or rather, delivery points, mostly located in cigar stores, drugstores, bakeries and other small businesses spread throughout the entire city of Amsterdam. The service, which originally showed such promise, did not survive very long. It ceased operations in the latter part of 1897.
A few pieces of history related to the ABD have been found in the archives, including a black and white picture of the delivery vehicles and its cyclist on the N.Z. Voorburgwal in downtown Amsterdam.
A few surviving sheets of the ABD "Coupons" show that these were printed in three colors; brown red and blue. ABD service had regular clients, for whom it made regular deliveries. The "aangesloten" clients could purchase the blue coupons (printed in sheets of 50) for f.4.50 for 100 coupons, or 1 coupon for 4-1/2 cents. These coupons were imprinted with the word "Aangesloten", meaning "Regular "client.
RE34418
The brown coupons were printed in sheets of ten, and were sold per sheet for f.1.25, thus 11-1/2 cents each. These were used solely for walk in customers.
RE34417
The red coupons, printed in sheets of 16, were sold for f.1.25 and sold to the "subscribers" of the services. The delivery charge for a parcel was 15 cents.
RE34419
The ABD made sure to use the word "Coupon" instead of stamp, in order to stay out of trouble with the powerful Staatspost, or Post Telephone Telegraph (PTT).
Only one piece of mail, with a coupon attached, cancelled in August of 1897 is known to exist:
..................
Marco Tibbe / Bert Schapelhouman, autumn 1992
Addendum:
You may have wondered why the coupons are presented here, as they have no relation to bicycles. Well, the reason is as follows: in 1996, MASSLAND OSS honored the 100th anniversary of the local city post stamps in the Netherlands with this booklet:
The stamp booklet shows exactly these coupons as well as the postmen with their distinctive bicycle type:
MASSLAND OSS issued a vast number of bicycle stamps (see BS-Magazine 13A, pages 18 to 26). These are recorded in the catalog published by E. Horn Sr. (S.S.P. studiegroep stadspost):
Stempelkatalogus van de Nederlandse Stadspostdiensten 1865 - 1995 (DEEL I)
A second envelope is currently for sale at a price of 500 €:
Arnoldt Rehm, December 2025
References/External links:
The complete article of Tibbe/Schapelhouman was published in the BS-Club magazine No. 13A under the title "A REVIEW OF THE "STADSPOST" OR "LOCAL POSTAL DELIVERY SERVICE" OPERATING IN THE NETHERLANDS".
"Honderd jaar stadspostzegels in Nederland” - Maandblad Philatelie, June 1996 page 456 ff.
Een Amsterdamse (post)besteldienst uit de forige eeuw – E. A. König, newspaper article ...
Newspaper article of "Nieuws van den dag", August 5, 1896. Photocopies from the city archives of Amsterdam:
"In recent days, a group of cyclists has been attracting attention. Dressed in neat gray uniforms, they ride through the city on their transport vehicles (tricycles) to practice. They are the delivery riders of the newly established limited liability company “Algemeene Besteldienst,” which will launch its new service within a few days. For the time being, the service will start with 36 delivery riders, who have first practiced thoroughly in Willemspark and are now busy learning how to ride through busy streets. In addition to the administrative staff, there are five supervisors. The company has established its central office in a capital mansion at Keizersgracht 263, near Hartenstraat."