PostNL expects 1.7 million parcels per day during the year-end peak
In a press release published on November 11, 2026, Singles' Day, PostNL presented its plan for the year-end period, which covers Black Friday, Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) and Christmas.
On peak days, the operator expects to process an average of around 1.7 million parcels per day, compared with 1.2 million on a normal delivery day.
More trips, more delivery rounds and two additional delivery days
To handle these volumes, PostNL said it is significantly increasing its resources. Its trucks will make around 1,250 trips per day during the peak period, compared with nearly 950 under normal conditions.
The number of delivery rounds will rise from an average of 4,500 to approximately 6,300 per day. The group has also added two delivery days: November 29 for parcels and December 21 for mail.
The November 29 delivery day is meant to ensure that as many Saint Nicholas gifts and Black Friday orders as possible arrive on time. Office staff will also take part in sorting and deliveries during the holiday period.
Promotions coordinated with online retailers and expanded delivery choices
The second part of the plan focuses on demand itself. PostNL said it is coordinating promotional campaigns and expected parcel volumes with major online retailers, and relying on consumers' delivery choices at the time of ordering to better spread demand.
According to the group, not all orders require the same type of delivery. A Black Friday purchase can wait for a day when the recipient is at home, and a gift meant to remain a surprise can be delivered to a PostNL point or a parcel locker.
A previous study conducted across different delivery days showed that 10% to 20% of consumers voluntarily chose a later date. In addition, more than 3.5 million of PostNL's 10 million users have set their delivery preferences in their account.
“We are not only looking at additional capacity, but also at how to spread volume peaks more evenly,” said Selma Postma, PostNL's Managing Director of E-commerce.
According to her, cooperation with online retailers and a wider choice for consumers should make it possible to “manage the busiest time of the year efficiently.”
