Rare Old KLM Map of Amsterdam to Batavia (Jakarta), 1934: Airline Routes, Twice Weekly Service

The "KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Amsterdam-Batavia Weekly Service Map" is a captivating artifact from the golden age of aviation, created in 1934 by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. This map is not just a visual delight but a historical document that showcases the pioneering spirit of one of the world's oldest airlines. KLM, established in 1919, played a crucial role in the development of commercial aviation, and this map illustrates their ambitious routes connecting Amsterdam to Batavia, now Jakarta, Indonesia. The meticulously charted course includes stops in major cities such as London, Athens, Cairo, Baghdad, Karachi, Calcutta, Rangoon, Bangkok, Medan, and Singapore, reflecting the airline's extensive reach and the burgeoning global connectivity of the era.

This thematic and pictorial map serves as an advertisement for KLM's services, highlighting not only their air routes but also the interconnected network of railways and steamship routes. It provides a snapshot of a time when air travel was a luxury and an adventure, capturing the imagination of travelers and the public alike. The map emphasizes the airline's "Twice Weekly Service," a significant upgrade from the previous weekly service, underscoring KLM's commitment to expanding and improving its offerings.

The design of the map is a stunning example of early 20th-century cartographic art. Rendered in a color lithograph, it employs a global projection to represent the world, giving viewers a sense of the vast distances covered by KLM's flights. The map is adorned with illustrative elements, including a detailed depiction of an airplane soaring above the globe and a backdrop of stars, evoking the romance and excitement of early air travel. The use of vibrant colors and clear, bold lines ensures that the routes and connections are easily distinguishable, making the map both informative and aesthetically pleasing.

Beyond its visual appeal, the map is rich with historical significance. It captures a moment in time when international air travel was beginning to shrink the world, making distant lands more accessible and fostering greater cultural and economic exchange. The routes depicted on the map highlight key cities and regions that were pivotal in global trade and communication, reflecting the strategic importance of these hubs in the early 20th century. This map is not just a representation of KLM's routes but a testament to the transformative power of aviation in connecting people and places.

In addition to the main routes, the map also highlights other airlines' services, railways, and steamship connections, painting a comprehensive picture of the transportation network of the time. The annotations and historical notes provide further context, making this map a valuable resource for historians and enthusiasts of early aviation. Its blend of artistry, historical context, and detailed information makes the "KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Amsterdam-Batavia Weekly Service Map" a remarkable piece for any collection, offering a window into a bygone era of exploration and innovation.

Countries and regions on this map

• Continents:
• Europe
• Asia
• Australia
• Countries and regions:
• Netherlands (Amsterdam)
• United Kingdom (London)
• Greece (Athens)
• Egypt (Cairo)
• Iraq (Baghdad)
• Pakistan (Karachi)
• India (Calcutta)
• Myanmar (Rangoon)
• Thailand (Bangkok)
• Indonesia (Medan, Batavia)
• Singapore
• Australia

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Inset maps or additional illustrations:
• Illustration of an airplane near the top center of the map
• Bodies of water:
• Various oceans and seas, including the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean
• Sea routes:
• Steamship routes are highlighted
• Rail routes:
• Railways are depicted, connecting various regions
• Other interesting features:
• Historical notes such as "Twice Weekly Service" indicating the frequency of flights
• Annotations indicating airline connections and services

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Amsterdam-Batavia Weekly Service Map
• Date created: 1934
• Mapmaker/Publisher: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Interesting context about the mapmaker: KLM is one of the oldest airlines in the world, established in 1919, and has played a significant role in the development of commercial aviation.
• Topics and themes:
• Airline routes: Depicts the air travel routes of KLM and other airlines
• Transportation: Highlights railways and steamship routes
• Global connectivity: Emphasizes the interconnectedness of different regions through air travel
• Design or style:
• Pictorial and thematic map
• Color lithograph
• Uses a global shape to represent the world
• Includes illustrative elements such as an airplane and stars
• Historical significance:
• Reflects the early days of commercial aviation and the expansion of international air travel
• Showcases the routes and services offered by one of the pioneering airlines of the time

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.