KLM Celebrates 106 Years of U.S. Connectivity with a Special Delft Blue House with Pilgrim Ties

KLM has marked their 106th anniversary by unveiling a new Delft Blue house: the former sexton’s residence, Villa Rameau, located next to the Pieterskerk in Leiden.  The Pilgrims stayed here for twelve years before they set sail on the Mayflower to America in 1620.

KLM Unveils a New Delft Blue House, Villa Rameau - Courtesy KLM

On Tuesday (October 7, 2025), KLM announced that in celebration of their 106th birthday, they have unveiled a new Delft Blue house: the former sexton’s residence, Villa Rameau, located next to the Pieterskerk in Leiden.  The Pilgrims stayed here for twelve years before they set sail on the Mayflower to America in 1620.  As the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name, KLM has played a key role in linking the Netherlands and Europe with the U.S.  As part of the Air France-KLM Group and in Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines, KLM carries millions of passengers annually between Europe and the U.S., serving a network of fifteen gateways.

In Tuesday’s announcement, KLM’s President and CEO, Marjan Rintel, said,

“With the unveiling of Villa Rameau as our 106th Delft Blue house, we’re not only celebrating our birthday, but also the importance of connection and resilience.  These values are reflected in the story of the house and the Pilgrims, and they’re also at the heart of KLM.  For 106 years, we’ve been building global connections.  Especially in challenging times, this house reminds us how vital it is to stay connected.  It’s a small symbol with a big story about how we keep innovating and shaping the future of aviation.”

Also commenting on the release of the latest Delft Blue house, Leiden’s Mayor, Peter Heijkoop, added,

It’s an honor that Villa Rameau, with its unique history and central place in Leiden, is now part of the KLM miniature house collection.  This house tells an important part of Leiden’s story, from the Pilgrims to the resistance.  We’re proud to see this story shared with the world in this special way.

In Celebration of Their 106th Birthday, KLM has Unveiled a New Delft Blue House: the Former Sexton’s Residence, Villa Rameau, Located Next to the Pieterskerk in Leiden - Courtesy KLM

Now home to the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, Villa Rameau has a storied past.  The Pilgrims’ first harvest festival, inspired by the Relief of Leiden, eventually became what Americans know as Thanksgiving, a tradition still honored every year at the Pieterskerk.  Later, the Rameau family, residents of the house, played a crucial role in the local resistance during World War II.  This Leiden landmark stands for perseverance in turbulent times and forging new bonds, values KLM holds dear.

KLM has given Delft Blue houses filled with Bols Dutch Gin as gifts to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights since the 1950s. These miniatures represent special buildings from the Netherlands and beyond and are cherished collectors’ items.  Since 1994, the number of houses matches KLM’s age.  Each year on October 7, KLM’s birthday, a new house is added to the collection.  The annual KLM house is a tribute to places that connect the Netherlands with the wider world.

Source: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines