Every airline works hard to make itself unique in some way. Particularly in business class and first class where they want to have passengers return on future trips. What KLM does, and is now a long-standing tradition, is offer at the end of long-haul flights one Delft Blue House to each business class passenger. The houses make up a collection that grows every year with a new piece. The houses represent some of the most iconic traditional Dutch houses present in the country’s capital Amsterdam. A cute way to say thank you while also giving an incentive to come back to complete the collection. Just yesterday the airline presented its latest addition to the collection.
This Year’s KLM Delft Blue House Inspired by a National Monument
This year’s Delft blue house is a special one. Along with adding one more piece to the collection, it’s also the 105th house being presented on the 105th birthday of the Dutch national carrier. The airline is among the oldest in the world, and prides itself for being the only one to have operated all its years of existence under the same name.
Therefore, to celebrate such an important milestone the airline chose a national monument as inspiration: the “Het huis aan de drie grachten” or for all non-Dutch speakers the house that borders with three canals. The house is situated in downtown Amsterdam and is surrounded on 3 sides by the following canals:
- Grimburgwal
- Oudezijds Voorburgwal
- Oudezijds Achterburgwal
Its construction dates to 1610 when it was built in Dutch renaissance style. Ownership changed over the years and so did its use, being a bookshop and publishing house for long stretches of time.
What are KLM’s Delft Houses?
They are a token of gratitude the airline presents to its business class passengers at the end of every long-haul flight. Each passenger can choose one and add it to their personal collection. They are filled with gin, only on some specific routes, due to religious reasons (i.e. the middle east) are the not filled with liquor.
Every year a new house is released on October 7th, which coincides with the airline’s anniversary of foundation. Since 1994 the release date and the number of the houses has been aligned with the airline’s anniversary and years of activity.
The whole collection, for whoever has the status and the chance, is visible at the stunning KLM lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol international airport.
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