KLM Royal Dutch Airlines marked its 107th anniversary by reviving a cherished tradition and announcing upcoming enhancements, including a newly designed Delft miniature house and complimentary Starlink Wi‑Fi slated for 2027.
The October 7 celebration began with the reveal of this year’s Delft miniature house. Since the 1950s, KLM has gifted these houses to business‑class travelers on long‑haul routes, making them one of aviation’s most iconic collectibles.
In addition, the airline unveiled further upgrades for long‑haul flyers, such as complimentary Starlink Wi‑Fi and an overhauled business‑class meal offering.
Below are the details I gathered about these new offerings from KLM’s October 7 event in the Netherlands.
Acquiring a Delft Miniature House
World Business Class travelers on KLM’s long‑haul flights receive a collectible house modeled after iconic Dutch landmarks. Flight attendants present the houses on a tray just before touchdown.
Each collectible bears a number on its base for identification; this year’s edition is number 107, marking the airline’s 107 years of operation. The design replicates a winery in Dreischor, Zeeland—Wijnhoeve De Kleine Schorre—whose white and rosé wines appear seasonally in KLM’s World Business Class service.
Every house contains Bols Genever, a malted grain spirit distilled in the Netherlands; on routes to destinations where alcohol is prohibited, the houses are left empty.
Even if a business‑class fare is beyond budget, options remain. Flying Blue frequently discounts World Business Class mileage redemptions through its monthly Promo Rewards, and miles can also be transferred from various credit‑card programs.
Obtaining a Delft House Without Flying
You need not spend thousands of dollars or miles on a business‑class ticket to acquire a Delft house; they appear in antique shops and on online marketplaces such as eBay. Prices fluctuate with rarity, and some pieces are exceptionally scarce or belong to limited‑edition series—like models of the Royal Palace or the New York Historical—that are usually reserved for VIPs or presented as executive gifts.
Numerous customers, including Flying Blue elite members, report choosing KLM for long‑haul travel specifically to add to their Delft house collection.
Nerdy Tip
Should you find a duplicate house, you may exchange it in the non‑Schengen section of the KLM Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the airline’s primary hub.
How KLM Selects the Annual Delft House
Being chosen as the model for a KLM Delft house is considered an honor. These miniatures appear in hotels, restaurants, shops, and private homes. Approximately one million houses are manufactured each year for distribution to passengers, and collectors note that acquiring a house often boosts its perceived market value.
The selection committee narrows nominations for historically or culturally significant buildings across the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. The choice for each year’s house remains a closely guarded secret, guided by internal criteria, and ultimately ratified by just two individuals—one of whom is the airline’s CEO.
Each October 7, invited guests assemble at the chosen site for speeches and a celebration that culminates in the grand reveal.
For this year’s Delft house, KLM President and CEO Marjan Rintel explained to NerdWallet that the flight path into Amsterdam frequently flies over Zeeland, where the winery resides. She noted that the region may be the first view of the Netherlands for certain passengers.
“I think there is something wonderfully unexpected this year about choosing a Dutch wine estate for KLM House #107,” said Mark Zegeling, author of “Little Kingdom by the Sea,” a book that outlines the history and significance of each house in the collection.
“Who would expect to find a vineyard in a country better known for windmills, water and beer?” adds Zegeling. “Today, this corner of the province produces wine that travels the world, carrying a taste of its unique terroir with it.”
Delft House–Inspired Travel
One significant aspect of the Delft house tradition is that it introduces travelers to lesser‑known regions of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean.
Zegeling’s publication, “Little Kingdom by the Sea,” functions as a guide for travelers wishing to visit the Delft houses across the Netherlands.
Additionally, the “KLM Houses” app catalogs every house, provides location and historical details, and offers a notes feature for logging when and where you acquire each piece.
For those short on time, Madurodam in The Hague offers a convenient alternative. The park displays replicas of many prominent Delft houses—including the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, and Station Valkenburg—all in a single visit. Designed as a walk‑through miniature city, it even features a scaled‑down version of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Upcoming Enhancements to KLM Flights
Starlink‑Powered Wireless Connectivity
KLM is overhauling its onboard experience over the coming years, with complimentary Starlink Wi‑Fi as the centerpiece. The carrier plans to launch free Starlink access on all intercontinental flights by mid‑2027, supplementing the free connectivity already offered on numerous intra‑European routes.
By mid‑2028, the airline anticipates providing free Wi‑Fi on every long‑haul service, aligning with a growing number of carriers adopting Starlink technology. In the meantime, Flying Blue members enjoy complimentary messaging on long‑haul flights.
Arrival of the Airbus A350
The airline recently received its first Airbus A350, a far more fuel‑efficient model destined to succeed the aging A330 fleet. KLM intends to phase out the A330s as additional A350s enter service, projecting a fleet of six A350s within the next three years.
Updated Business‑Class Amenity Kits
Beginning in early 2027, KLM will introduce a new business‑class amenity kit available in light and navy blue variations, featuring products from the Dutch brand Marie‑Stella‑Maris.
Revised Meal Service
In World Business Class, KLM will introduce a completely new meal‑service concept for long‑haul flights. Instead of trays, flight attendants will lay a tablecloth before each passenger and serve plates and glasses individually, emulating a restaurant setting. The pre‑landing meal service will continue to use trays, and the airline has confirmed to NerdWallet that it will discontinue the dine‑on‑demand option in favor of this updated approach.
Economy travelers on short‑haul European flights will also see adjustments. Following a trial of buy‑on‑board menus, KLM has replaced the traditional complimentary drinks and snacks—typically a Dutch sandwich with optional free beer and wine—with a selection of paid items from the Grand Café. Passengers may pre‑order or select onboard from a range of sandwiches, salads, and other snacks.
Complimentary offerings remain water, tea, coffee, orange juice, and a Dutch stroopwafel on short‑haul flights. Moreover, World Business Class passengers on long‑haul routes continue to receive the beloved Delft miniature house as a signature amenity.
Maximizing Your Rewards
About the author
Ramsey is a freelance travel journalist specializing in business travel, loyalty programs, and luxury travel. His bylines appear in Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Reader’s Digest, AFAR, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, Frommers.com, Fodors.com, Business Traveler, Fortune, Airways, TravelAge West, MSN.com, Bustle.com, and various AAA publications. Logging over 450,000 miles annually and having visited 173 countries, he possesses deep expertise in credit‑card strategies and maximizing their associated benefits.
