KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Royal Dutch Airlines – A Legendary Ode to Eternal Travel

Evoking the grandeur of the golden age of civil aviation, this remarkable vintage poster from KLM brilliantly fuses the maritime heritage of the Netherlands with the forward-looking spirit of 1950s air travel.

Designed by Dutch artist Joop H. van Heusden, the poster features a powerful four-engine aircraft – likely a Lockheed Constellation – soaring above the mythical ship The Flying Dutchman. Far from being a mere folkloric reference, this visual pairing embodies a powerful vision of travel: an ever-moving world where sea and sky merge in the promise of exploration.

Iconic Mid-Century Graphic Style

Printed using traditional lithography in elegant sepia tones, this artwork stands out for:

• its dynamic composition, emphasized by the aircraft's dramatic angle,

• a moody and theatrical atmosphere, blending clouds and ocean swells,

• its symbolic fusion of past glory and future progress.

KLM: A Pioneer in Global Air Travel

Founded in 1919, KLM is the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. With this poster, the airline asserts its commitment to excellence in travel – from the Dutch merchant fleets of the 17th century to 20th-century intercontinental flight. The Flying Dutchman, once a cursed figure of maritime lore, is reimagined here as a romantic emblem of eternal voyage and far-flung destinations.