The end of mailboxes in Denmark – Who will take over international mail?

The approximately 1,500 red mailboxes are still hanging in Denmark. But for several weeks now, a conspicuous notice has been emblazoned on several of these mailboxes: It states that this particular mailbox will disappear in a few days – forever. On June 1, the company PostNord will begin dismantling the first boxes, which have had a standardized appearance in the kingdom since 1860.

By the end of the year, all the boxes are to be gone, and then, after four centuries, the state-owned company will completely cease delivering letters. From now on, it plans to focus on the growing parcel business. 1,500 of the approximately 4,600 postal employees in Denmark will lose their jobs as a result.

This also has consequences for German tourists in our northern neighbouring country: sending a holiday postcard to those at home is already very expensive – 50 Danish kroner are due, which is equivalent to 6.70 euros.

From 2026 onwards, however, sending a postcard with a few handwritten notes could become virtually impossible. Because it hasn't even been determined yet which company will handle international mail in the future. It's completely unclear what the service will cost starting in January and where there will be collection points.

At least one company has already expressed public interest in providing this international service: DAO, which stands for Dansk Avis Omdeling. It plans to take over Denmark's international postal services starting next year with partner companies from abroad. The company, which was founded more than 100 years ago as a newspaper distribution company, says it will participate in a corresponding tender issued by the Ministry of Transport in Copenhagen.

Currently, it's not possible to send letters or postcards abroad with DAO. Even sending mail to the two relatively autonomous parts of the kingdom, Greenland or the Faroe Islands, isn't possible yet. But that will soon change, promises Managing Director Hans Peter Nissen. "For us, this is a natural continuation of our work."

Nissen says his company already accounts for a good quarter of the domestic German mail market. In magazine delivery, they have a market share of more than half. Wherever PostNord withdraws, they intend to offer their own services to customers, he says. "We already have a nationwide delivery network in the country. We're ready."

Nissen also says, however, that letter delivery is only profitable if the volume is high enough. However, the number of mailings has been declining for decades – by about eight to ten percent each year. In the UK, about 90 percent fewer letters are mailed today than in 2000.

"That's why it was so important that we were awarded the contract for the distribution of blind mail last year in the first tender following the reform of the postal law," says Nissen. After all, this involves around 600,000 items per year. This provides a certain basis for planning. For example, when and where deliveries will be made. Unlike in the past, the post office in Denmark often takes a little longer these days: DAO says it takes up to five days for delivery.

However, Nissen emphasizes that his company's service is often much better than what people are used to from the old state postal service. His employees deliver mail 365 days a year – even on holidays. This appeals particularly to younger people, for whom analog mail is probably a kind of counterbalance to digital overstimulation and who therefore prefer to send important invitations, such as wedding invitations, physically. "That ultimately expresses a certain value." In any case, the volume of mail at DAO even doubled last year, says Nissen, adding emphatically: "The letter is not threatened with extinction."

Just as in Germany, Denmark is also experiencing strong growth in the parcel business, primarily thanks to online sales. In addition to PostNord and DAO, two other providers have secured significant market shares in the Kingdom: GLS, whose largest shipping depot for the whole of Europe is also located in Copenhagen, and the Norwegian Post with its Bring brand.

However, these two companies say they are not currently planning to enter the Danish mail market. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that they have ambitions for international mail. DOA CEO Nissen emphasizes, however, that it is by no means certain that there will be other interested parties. His company therefore declined to comment on possible prices for sending holiday postcards to Germany.

This summer will be the last time tourists can send traditional handwritten greetings with a real stamp to their grandma or godmother – even if the prices are already exorbitant. For most people, sending them using a postcard app is already cheaper, as the card is printed in Germany and mailed. However, it won't be handwritten and won't have a real stamp.

If this is important, you should consider dropping the card in a mailbox in Germany. Even then, it probably won't arrive at the recipient much later, but it will be more cost-effective.