Winners of the 2025 EUROPA Stamps Competition
PostEurop is proud to announce Posten Bring, Norway (first place), PostNL, The Netherlands (second place), and Hellenic Post – ELTA (third place) as the winners of the 2025 EUROPA Stamps Competition, which focused on the captivating the theme of “Archaeological Discoveries.” Posten Bring’s winning stamp featured the remains of a dog with a collar from the 16th century, found at Lendbreen Pass in Jotunheimen.
“It’s an honour to share Europe’s rich archaeological heritage through this stamp, creating a link between the past and the present. We’re thrilled our stamp design was voted as winner.” – said Tarjei Weseth, Vice President Regulatory Affairs
Celebrating Europe’s Archaeological Heritage
This year’s competition attracted 57 entries, each presenting unique artistic interpretations of Europe’s rich archaeological heritage. From prehistoric artefacts to medieval treasures, the stamps offered collectors a miniature journey through Europe’s past, celebrating discoveries that have shaped our understanding of history. All entries submitted to the 2025 competition can be viewed at europastamps.eu/collection.
Voting Process
The voting took place across three panels: votes from the general public via the EUROPA Stamps website (16,814 votes), votes from issuing postal authorities (48 votes), and votes from the expert jury (13 participants). The points from all three panels were combined to determine the three winning stamps.
Awards Ceremony
The winners were announced during an awards ceremony on 8 October 2025, held in connection with the PostEurop General Assembly in Tirana, Belgrade. All three winning stamps were awarded a trophy and a certificate for the issuing postal authority. The entries from Posten Bring, PostNL, and Hellenic Post ELTA were announced as the top three finalists, each design highlighting not only artistic excellence but also the importance of preserving and sharing Europe’s cultural legacy.
Voices from PostEurop
“The art of stamp design is combining historical insight with creative storytelling,” said Xavier Clabots, Chair of the PostEurop Stamps & Philately Working Group. “This year’s winning stamps celebrate Europe’s archaeological heritage while inspiring new generations to explore history through philately. Each design captures the essence of discovery and the stories behind Europe’s remarkable archaeological finds.”
PostEurop Secretary General Botond Szebeny, who served as president of the expert jury, added: “It is inspiring to see how the EUROPA Stamps Competition continues to evolve, bringing together innovation and tradition. The 2025 competition reminds us of the role we play in safeguarding Europe’s heritage. These stamps are not only works of art but also educational tools for current and future generations.”
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2025 EUROPA Stamps Competition!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition and cast their votes.
About EUROPA Stamps: Celebrating Europe’s Shared Heritage
EUROPA stamps are among the most popular and widely collected stamps in the world. Issued annually by European postal administrations under the guidance of PostEurop, they celebrate Europe’s shared culture, history, and heritage. Each year, a unifying theme brings postal operators together while promoting philately, turning stamps into ambassadors of European identity and fostering awareness of common roots and aspirations.
First issued in 1956, EUROPA stamps symbolize Europe’s commitment to closer integration and collaboration. Since 1993, PostEurop has coordinated their issuance and organizes the annual competition through its Stamps & Philately Working Group. Bearing the EUROPA logo—a registered trademark of PostEurop—these stamps continue to captivate both collectors and the postal community, reflecting the dedication and active participation of member postal administrations.
For more information, visit www.europastamps.eu
See also the story of Posten’s winning stamp
About PostEurop
PostEurop represents 55 postal operators in 53 countries and territories across Europe, handling 60 billion items annually. The industry employs 2 million people, manages 258 million delivery points, and contributes approximately 1% to the EU GDP. For more information, visit www.posteurop.org.
For Media Inquiries:
Cynthia Wee Neumann
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André Feio
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