De Koninklijke Pakketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM – Royal Packet Navigation Company – was established in 1888 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company was created by merging several smaller Dutch shipping companies that were operating in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). KPM’s main purpose was to provide a regular shipping service between the Dutch East Indies and Europe, as well as between the various islands in the Indonesian archipelago. Over time, KPM became one of the largest and most influential shipping companies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The KPM established its shipping service to Australia through its subsidiary, the Australian-Asiatic Steam Navigation Company (AASN), which was established in 1912. AASN was created to provide regular shipping services between Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, using KPM’s ships. The service provided by AASN was initially focused on carrying cargo, but passenger services were introduced later.

In 1927, KPM and the British shipping company P&O established a joint venture called the Eastern & Australian Steamship Company (E&A), which operated a passenger and cargo service between Australia and Southeast Asia. The E&A service used KPM’s ships for the Southeast Asian leg of the journey and P&O’s ships for the Australian leg.

Office and agency of the KPM in Sydney, 1931: entrance door of the ‘Pakketvaart House’ and the shop window (with a ship model in the window) of the agency. Source: National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
Interior of the office and agency (‘Pakketvaart House’) of the KPM in Sydney, 1931.National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
The office and agency of the KPM in Sydney, 1931. The shop window with advertising from the Royal Dutch Airmail. Source: National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
The office and agency of the KPM in Sydney, 1931. A (moved) shot of the crowd gathered in front of the agency. Source: National Maritime Museum Amsterdam

The KPM/AASN and E&A services played an important role in connecting Australia with the rest of the world during the first half of the 20th century, and they were important for trade, migration, and cultural exchange between Australia and Southeast Asia.

During World War II, KPM’s ships were used extensively by the Allied forces for transportation and logistics purposes in the Pacific Theater. After the war, KPM resumed its operations, but the Dutch East Indies gained independence in 1949, leading to the company’s restructuring and eventual merger with other Dutch shipping companies in the 1960s.

It operated a large fleet of ships during its existence. Some of the notable ships that the company operated include:

  • Bantam
  • Both
  • Celebes
  • Djambi
  • Flores
  • Gorgone
  • Gorgonella
  • Houtman
  • Indrapoera
  • Le Maire
  • Nieuw Holland
  • Nieuw Zeeland
  • Nusatua
  • Roggeveen
  • Spillbergen
  • Tawali
  • Tawangmangu
  • Tasman
  • Tamzine
  • Tjikandi
  • Tjikembang
  • Tjimanuk
  • Tjinegara
  • Tjipanas
  • Tjisaroea
  • Tjitarum
  • Van der Capellen
  • Van der Lijn
  • Van Heutz
  • Van Riebeeck
  • Van Waerwijck
Portrait of the commander of the screw steamer 1st class Zr.Ms. “Djambi”, Captain-lieutenant at sea P.A. from Rees. 1864
Photographers Freeman, Brother’s (Sydney)  Source Mariners Museum Netherlands
Postcard of the passenger ship ss. ‘Nieuw Holland’ of the KPM sailing under the Sydney harbor bridge under construction, accompanied by a harbor tug.
6-6-1930
The passenger ship “Abel Tasman” of the KPM in Sydney Harbour. 1922. Paining by John Allcot. National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
The passenger ship ms. “Sawahloento” of the KPM in Sydney Harbour 1922. Paining by John Allcot. National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
The passenger ship SS. “Roggeveen” of the KPM at Sydney Harbour 1823. Paining by John Allcot. National Maritime Museum Amsterdam
Passenger ship SS. ‘New Zealand’ of the KPM passes the Sydney Harbor Bridge on arrival in Sydney, from Milsons Pt 1930. National Maritime Museum Amsterdam

These ships, among others, were used for passenger and cargo transport, as well as military purposes during World War II.

See also:

Dutch merchant fleet delivered major contribution to the war in the Pacific.

Steam Shipping Lines Australia – Netherlands – starting in 1864