Dutch national carrier KLM hit two big milestones this week: its 104th birthday, and the 71st anniversary of gifting souvenir Delft houses to business class passengers. As the oldest airline in the world continuously operating under one name, KLM celebrates each Oct. 7 with great fanfare—and, yes, this includes introducing a new Dutch house to its growing collection.
This long-standing tradition has spurred a flurry of online fan sites, souvenir stores, and even an airline-created app for collectors. Ahead, dig into the history (and newest iteration) of this beloved souvenir.
How did the tradition begin?
This practice of giving the Delftware replicas dates back to the 1950s when KLM found a clever way to get around rules prohibiting airlines from gifting passengers for fear that it represented unfair competition. Sealed and filled with Dutch gin, the house was not necessarily considered a gift, but more of a beverage from the airline.
Each year on the airline’s birthday, many passengers book long-haul flights with the express purpose of adding the newest house to their collection. With a number printed on the back of each house and a dedicated app, it’s easy to keep track of which houses you have—but the only way to get one is by flying on an intercontinental flight with the airline or picking one up from an antique shop. Of course, there’s somewhat of an underground market for them where people hawk the homes online for hundreds—sometimes even thousands—of dollars. And if somehow you end up with a duplicate house and you aren’t looking to sell, you can swap it for a replacement in the KLM lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
How are the houses chosen?
The featured houses are picked from an intense competition around the selection of iconic buildings around the country. A dedicated team reviews the submissions (there are generally between 10 and 20 every year) before creating a shortlist of five to pass to KLM president and CEO Marjan Rintel, who makes the final decision. Aside from being one of the best souvenirs we can think of, there’s also another perk: being chosen instantly boosts a building’s standing in the neighborhood as a tourist attraction, and grows its real estate value.
So—what was chosen as the 2023 replica?
This year, the Delftware replica represents the oldest train station building in the country. Located in Valkenburg aan de Geul and owned by NS Dutch Railways (one of the oldest railway companies in Europe), the building is almost 170 years old, but still functions as a stop on the Heuvelland Line between Maastricht and Heerlen.
At a celebratory ceremony, Rintel—who previously worked for NS Dutch Railways—gave the first of the new houses to local mayor Daan Prevoo, citing the airline’s efforts to create more sustainable routes for travelers. “We chose this building because it represents the shared future of KLM and NS Dutch Railways, in which we will further expand our range of air-rail services to replace short distance flights,” says Rintel. The air-rail collaboration is part of a growing trend within Europe of airlines partnering with trains to complete the shorter leg of a long-haul journey.
