Denmark has become the first country to shut down its state-run postal letter service after a 90 percent drop in letter sending over the past 25 years.

The final letter was delivered this week, ending a 401-year-old service operated by PostNord.

Letter volumes fell from nearly 1.5 billion in 2000 to just 110 million last year, while high costs made the service economically unviable.

PostNord has removed and sold its 1,500 mailboxes, made around 1,500 staff redundant, and will now focus solely on its growing parcel delivery business, the U.S. Sun has reported.

While most communication in Denmark is now digital, the closure has sparked public nostalgia and sadness.