Today in Postal History

Netherlands East Indies to Netherlands

October 17, 1927

This postal card was sent from Batavia (now Jakarta) in Java on the return flight of the
first regularly scheduled service from the Netherlands to the Netherlands East Indies.

The postal card actually originated on October 15 in another location in Java as evidenced by the two CDS.
The originating post office appears to be WELTEVREDEN (see also the return address at lower left).
Although I have been unable to locate Weltevreden in my atlas/gazeteer,
I have found that Weltevreden is a district within Batavia on Koningsplein near the center of the city.*
All the Dutch names in Java disappeared with Indonesian independence.
The sender designated service Per Vliegtuig Ned. Indië - Nederland.
(Translation: By Airplane Netherlands Indies - Netherlands.)*

The Netherlands regular air service to the far east had begun on October 1, 1927.
Captain Koppen took off from Schiphol/Holland airport bound for the Netherlands East Indies.

The aircraft, shown above, was a three engine Fokker F-VIIb, H-NAEA (registration number), Postduif (carrier pigeon).

The flight to the far east had its share of unexpected events typical of
transoceanic flights of that era and was not completed until October 10.

The return flight took off on October 17 after a week's layover in Batavia.
Special departure postmarks were applied at Batavia, Muntok, and Palembang.
The crisp 17 OCT. 27 example here is for Batavia.

The return flight arrived in Amsterdam on October 28, 1927.
The card was then forwarded to its destination of Bussum about 20 km southeast of Amsterdam.
In addition to the 5c postal card, a 2½c light red numeral from 1922
(Scott 106) has been added to make up the rate for ordinary ground service.
The flight required an additional air fee of 10 Gulden for letters up to 20 gr and 2½ Gulden for postcards.
The required 2½ Gulden was a carmine Queen Wilhelmina
of 1913 (Scott 136 - there are perforation varieties).

*Thanks to Guillame for confirming the status of Weltevreden, the translation and for correcting my typos.

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