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Every year on October 7, KLM marks its founding anniversary by unveiling a new Delft Blue miniature house, a tradition that began in the 1950s. These blue-and-white ceramic houses, originally filled with Bols Genever liquor, are distributed to business-class passengers on intercontinental flights as a gesture of appreciation. The collectibles have become highly sought after by frequent flyers and aviation enthusiasts.
This year, KLM introduced its 106th Delft house: Villa Rameau in Leiden. The building, dating back to the mid-17th century, was initially constructed as the home for the sexton of Pieterskerk (St. Peter's Church). Over time, it has served various purposes and is currently being converted into the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, scheduled to reopen at this new location on October 15.
Leiden holds historical significance as the city where many pilgrims lived before departing for North America aboard the Mayflower. The local celebration of a harvest festival in Leiden is considered a precursor to Thanksgiving in the United States. In more recent history, members of the Rameau family participated in resistance activities during World War II.
