“I do not know whether or not KLM staff may have imagined, once they began in 1919, that KLM’s birthday would nonetheless be celebrated 103 years later. This time even on stunning Aruba, the place we have now been flying to for nearly fifty years and the place we have a good time the beginning of 100 years of aviation on the island at the moment. As KLM, we have now skilled many highs and lows previously century. We have now at all times celebrated our birthday on October 7, as a result of there’s a good cause to take action: KLM is a superb firm that connects the Netherlands with the world. We will be pleased with that,” mentioned Rintel.
Historic Cottage
About home 103: this time the selection was made for the miniature model of a home that’s positioned in a particular location: the home of the Ecury household in Aruba. Subsequent yr, Aruba will have a good time 100 years of aviation on the island, and the home — which is now a part of the Nationwide Archaeological Museum of Aruba — stands near the place the primary aircraft landed. As well as, the Ecury household has been instrumental within the improvement of aviation on the island. The household loved nice social and enterprise esteem.
Their son Nicasio ‘Dundun’ Ecury constructed his enterprise empire from right here and performed an essential function within the improvement of aviation on the island. His son Boy Ecury went to review within the Netherlands and have become a resistance hero in the course of the Second World Struggle. In 1944 he was betrayed and executed. Since 2009 the home is a part of the Nationwide Archaeological Museum of Aruba. The centerpiece of the museum is the 1929 constructing with a facade that includes classical parts, Caribbean gingerbread particulars and native ornamental parts. The architect, Dada Picus, created a harmonious complete in a novel and stately method.
“We’re extraordinarily pleased with our cultural heritage and are due to this fact very honored that this iconic mansion, the Ecury complicated, has been chosen as KLM’s subsequent miniature dwelling. We’re very honored that Aruba’s cultural heritage will now journey to all KLM locations worldwide,” mentioned Agustin Vrolijk, Performing Governor of Aruba.
Lengthy relationship between KLM and Aruba
In December 1934 the ‘Snip’, a three-engined KLM-Fokker F.XVIII, flew in seven days from Amsterdam by way of Marseille, Alicante, Casablanca, Porto Praia, Paramaribo and La Guaria to Curaçao. This primary transatlantic flight of KLM was technically solely attainable with a number of intermediate stops, an tailored cabin and with out passengers. The flight was supposed to station an plane within the Antilles. On December 23, the ‘Snip’ made her first contact down in Aruba.
On January 19, 1935, the opening flight of the common air service Curaçao – Aruba befell. This was the primary scheduled service of the KLM West Indies Firm (WIB). On February 11, 1974, a hard and fast, direct connection was established between Amsterdam and Aruba, which now runs each day.
100 years of aviation in Aruba
Subsequent yr it will likely be 100 years for the reason that first aircraft landed in Aruba. In the meantime, aviation has offered a robust connection between Aruba and the remainder of the world. This has a significant affect on the native economic system, which now largely depends on tourism. Aruba Airport now receives roughly 2.5 million vacationers per yr.
“Our celebration of 100 years of aviation in Aruba in 2023 couldn’t have began higher than with this reward from KLM – including an Aruban miniature home to their assortment. We’re very pleased with the selection made for the Ecury Huisje as one in every of Aruba’s most treasured heritage websites. This home will convey an Aruban contact to KLM’s massive assortment of miniature homes, shield and promote the significance of our cultural heritage and as such contribute to the cultural purpose of sustainable improvement for the island,” mentioned Joost Meijs, Aruba Airport’s Dutch CEO. .
