On October 7, 1919, 8 Dutch business men met to official form KLM – Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën /Royal Dutch Airlines for the Netherlands and Colonies.

KLM was granted permission to use Royal in their name a month prior from Queen Wilhelmina.

The first flight took place on May 17, 1920. KLM’s first pilot, Henry “Jerry Shaw”, flew from London, to Amsterdam, carrying 2 journalists, a stack of newspapers and a letter from the Mayor of London to the Mayor of Amsterdam. The first aircraft flown was a leased 4 seater AIRCO De Havilland DH-16 and in the following months, KLM transported 400 passengers and 22 tons of freight. As of 2024, KLM is now the oldest continuing airline in the world. 

A number of stamps have been issued celebrating KLM’s long history, including this 3 stamp set for their 100th anniversary. The first aircraft shown is a Fokker, not the De Havilland that was actually used. 

100 Years of Aviation
Issued 2019 by PostNL
Designer: Total Design

1959 saw a pair of stamps released for Royal Dutch Airlines’ 40th anniversary featuring a Douglas DC-8 and a map of the world. The 8 was KLM’s newest aircraft that went began flying routes in 1960.  

40th Anniversary of KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines)
Issued 1959 by PostNL
Designer: Erik Thorn Leeson

In 1994, another set was released, which included a stamp for KLM’s 75th anniversary. In an industry that saw airlines come and go at a rapid pace, this was significant achievement.  The KLM stamp was part of a 3 stamp set celebrating 75 years of Dutch aviation 

KLM, 75 Years
Part of the 75 Years of Dutch Aviation trio
Designer: Collectief “Joseph Plateau”

 The DH-16 was originally designed as a light bomber, but with the war’s end, converted to commercial uses. It was in service from 1919 to 1923.  It was redesigned as a 4 seat passenger plane and initially used for sightseeing trips rather than destination flights.  

DH-16 aircraft, c. 1919. Courtesy Flight Magazine

KLM flight May 12, 1920 with pilot Jerry Shaw, on the far right and the newspaper bundles that were transported. Courtesy KLM
The aircraft, registration G-EALU, was named “Arras”.

By 1921, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij partnered with the legendary Fokker company to supply planes for the company, a relationship that continued for nearly 100 years.  The DH-16 remained in service with KLM until 1924.