The Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines recently marked its 107th anniversary by blending a cherished historical tradition with major technological upgrades for the future. The milestone celebration, held on Oct. 7 in the Netherlands, featured the unveiling of the airline’s latest Delft miniature house, alongside major announcements regarding upcoming passenger experience enhancements, including the rollout of free Starlink Wi-Fi starting in 2027 and a complete redesign of the long-haul business class dining service.

For decades, KLM has used its October anniversary to look forward while honoring its deep roots in Dutch culture and aviation history. This year’s announcements highlight the carrier’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet and cabin amenities while preserving the unique traditions that have made it a favorite among frequent flyers and commercial aviation enthusiasts worldwide.

How to get a Delft miniature house

Since the 1950s, World Business Class passengers traveling on KLM’s long-haul flights have been presented with a collectible ceramic house upon approaching their destination. Designed to replicate iconic and historically significant buildings across the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean, these miniature houses are traditionally distributed by the flight crew on a tray just before landing.

Like many cherished collectibles, each house is discreetly numbered on the back to help passengers track and identify their acquisitions. This year’s edition is numbered house No. 107, perfectly corresponding to each year the airline has been in business. The architectural model itself is inspired by a working winery in Dreischor, located in the province of Zeeland. The estate, Wijnhoeve De Kleine Schorre, produces a variety of white and rosé wines that are served seasonally onboard KLM flights in World Business Class.

True to tradition, each Delft house is filled with alcohol, specifically Bols Genever, a traditional malted, grain-based Dutch spirit produced locally in the Netherlands. For flights operating to dry destinations where local regulations or cultural guidelines prohibit the import or service of alcohol, the miniature houses are provided in a hollow format.

While securing these collectibles typically requires a ticket in World Business Class, travelers have alternative avenues to acquire them without purchasing premium airfare. The Flying Blue loyalty program frequently features World Business Class mileage redemptions on sale through its monthly Promo Rewards initiatives. Furthermore, travelers who lack sufficient Flying Blue miles can readily transfer points from several major credit card reward programs into their account.

Can you get a Delft house if you are not flying?

Travelers who prefer not to invest thousands of dollars or loyalty points into a long-haul business class ticket still have opportunities to secure a collectible Delft house. These miniature buildings frequently appear in antique shops, specialty stores, and online secondary marketplaces like eBay. Market prices fluctuate significantly based on the relative rarity of specific editions.

The collection includes several exceptionally hard-to-find releases, alongside limited-edition specialty houses that were never distributed on standard commercial KLM flights. Examples include detailed models of the Royal Palace or the New York Historical Society, which are typically reserved for diplomatic VIPs or presented as exclusive executive gifts.

Many dedicated frequent flyers, including high-tier Flying Blue elite members, have noted that they routinely plan their international itineraries around KLM aircraft to steadily grow and complete their personal collections. For passengers who discover they have accidentally collected a duplicate house, KLM offers a convenient exchange option within the non-Schengen area of the KLM Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the carrier’s primary hub.

How does KLM choose the house each year?

Securing a spot as the architectural muse for a KLM Delft house is widely considered an honor for any municipality or property owner. Once distributed to passengers, the houses frequently end up prominently displayed in homes, offices, hotels, restaurants, and shops across the globe. With nearly a million houses produced and distributed annually, aviation lore suggests that real estate values for the actual properties can experience a noticeable bump once selected for the collection.

The selection process is rigorous, involving a careful screening of nominations for buildings and historic sites possessing noteworthy architectural or cultural significance throughout the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. The final decision remains a closely guarded secret within the organization, evaluated through various internal criteria before coming down to a final choice made by just two people, including the airline’s chief executive officer.

Every year on Oct. 7, invited guests gather for formal speeches and a celebration hosted directly at the real-world location of the newly chosen house for the official reveal. Discussing the selection of this year’s house, KLM President and CEO Marjan Rintel noted that the typical flight approach into Amsterdam frequently carries aircraft directly over the province of Zeeland. Wijnhoeve De Kleine Schorre holds special significance because its picturesque landscape represents the very first glimpse of Dutch soil for many incoming international travelers.

Mark Zegeling, author of the book "Little Kingdom by the Sea," which chronicles the history and architectural significance of each house in the collection, emphasized the unexpected charm of the selection. He pointed out the novelty of honoring a Dutch wine estate in a nation more traditionally recognized for windmills, water, and beer, noting that the regional terroir now travels globally aboard KLM flights.

Delft house-inspired travel

The cultural footprint of the Delft house collection extends well beyond the cabin, actively encouraging travelers to explore lesser-known regions of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. Zegeling’s publication serves as an informal guidebook for enthusiasts who wish to visit the real-world buildings that inspired their ceramic counterparts.

For travelers seeking digital integration, the airline offers a dedicated mobile application called "KLM Houses." The tool catalogs every released house, provides detailed historical background and location data, and features a personal notes section enabling collectors to log the exact flight or date they added a specific building to their collection.

Enthusiasts who want to experience the breadth of the collection without embarking on a nationwide journey can visit Madurodam, a popular miniature park in The Hague. The destination displays replicas of the collection’s most famous houses within a walkable miniature city model, which even includes a scaled-down representation of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Other changes coming to KLM flights

Alongside its commemorative traditions, KLM is preparing for a sweeping modernization of its entire passenger service model over the coming years. The most notable infrastructure upgrade involves inflight connectivity. By the middle of 2027, the airline plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi across its intercontinental fleet for all passengers, complementing the free connectivity options already available on many regional European flights.

The carrier projects that by mid-2028, all long-haul aircraft will be fully equipped with the complimentary Wi-Fi service, positioning KLM alongside a growing number of global carriers adopting satellite-based broadband. In the interim, Flying Blue loyalty program members retain access to free messaging services on long-haul routes.

Fleet modernization efforts are also underway. Earlier in the month, KLM took delivery of its first Airbus A350 aircraft, a highly fuel-efficient addition designed to systematically replace older A330 airframes. The airline anticipates retiring the older models as additional A350 deliveries arrive over the next three years, scaling up to six aircraft of the type in the near term.

In the premium cabins, passengers can expect updated tactile experiences. Beginning in early 2027, KLM will introduce a refreshed business class amenity kit available in light and navy blue colorways, featuring curated products from the sustainable Dutch lifestyle brand Marie-Stella-Maris.

Significant adjustments are also coming to the onboard dining procedures. In World Business Class, KLM is phasing out traditional tray-based meal delivery in favor of a restaurant-style service concept. Flight attendants will lay a formal tablecloth directly in front of each passenger, serving individual plates and glassware course by course. The second pre-landing meal service on long-haul flights will continue to utilize trays. Furthermore, KLM confirmed that it will discontinue its dine-on-demand meal service format in favor of this structured restaurant-style delivery pattern.

Economy passengers on short-haul European routes will also experience changes. Following extended trials of buy-on-board dining concepts, the airline has replaced its traditional complimentary snacks and beverages—such as standard Dutch sandwiches and complimentary beer and wine—with a paid selection branded as the "Grand Cafė." Travelers can pre-order or purchase items directly on board, choosing from an array of fresh sandwiches, salads, and seasonal snacks.

Despite these cost-saving shifts on regional flights, core complimentary items remain available, including water, coffee, tea, orange juice, and the traditional Dutch stroopwafel on short-haul segments. Meanwhile, long-haul World Business Class passengers continue to receive the enduring symbol of the airline’s anniversary tradition: the fan-favorite collectible Delft miniature house.