Exhibition at the Düsseldorf Maritime Museum
200 Years of KD Stories, Faces, and Secrets
"—The Special Exhibition
For 200 years, Köln-Düsseldorfer has shaped shipping on the Rhine like no other company. KD for two centuries of corporate history, technical innovations, and economic and social change. Its ships connect cities, regions, and, above all, people.
Sailing stirs people's emotions
At the exhibition opening, museum director Dr. Markus Todoric welcomed numerous guests from the worlds of politics, business, culture, and society, including members of the “Friends and Supporters of the SchifffahrtMuseum im Schlossturm e.V. Düsseldorf.” The exhibition was created in cooperation with Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH and the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Wirtschaftsarchiv zu Köln Foundation (RWWA). “The Rhine, shipping, and especially the KD ships KD often KD special emotional KD many people’s KD since childhood—not only in Cologne and Düsseldorf, but throughout the entire region. This exhibition highlights the KD development KD its beginnings to its modern fleet in an extremely engaging and vivid way,” said Dr. Markus Todoric.
, Dr. Markus Todoric, Nina Luig
(KD), Dr. Ulrich Soénius (RWWA)
Competitors Join Forces
In his welcoming remarks, Mayor Josef Hinkel recalled the company’s pioneering achievements, which were built on two pillars: the Prussian-Rhenish Steamship Company in Cologne and the Steamship Company for the Lower and Middle Rhine in Düsseldorf. “It’s wonderful that these former competitors have come together and created a shared success story.” RWWA Director Dr. Ulrich Soénius emphasized that the Economic Archives, based in Cologne, is responsible for the entire Rhineland. For over a year now, he and his team have also been managing the extensive archives of the Cologne-Düsseldorf company.
KD Nicole Becker is responsible for the exhibition’s conception and implementation; she has also taken on the role of curator for this project. “A few months ago, this exhibition was just an idea: to tell KD 200 years KD in a modern, lively, and immersive way. Seeing how visitors today discover the stories, faces, and secrets behind our company’s history is a very special moment for me. Being able to accompany this project from the initial idea to the opening fills me with pride and has touched me deeply on a personal level,” said Nicole Becker.
, KD, Nicole Becker
An Anniversary as an Opportunity to Look Ahead
KD Nina Luig emphasized that the company looks back with pride on 200 years of Köln-Düsseldorfer. “This anniversary is not only a time to look back, but also an opportunity to look ahead. KD significant development in recent years. We want to bring people together and create unforgettable moments on the water. Today, we see ourselves not only as a shipping company, but also as a host. Our tradition is not our goal, but our foundation. It gives us the strength and the responsibility to actively shape the future.”
The exhibits will be on display through the end of October
The special exhibition will be on view through October 25, 2026. “It KD a great honor for KD to be a part of and a partner to the SchifffahrtMuseum,” said Nina Luig. “The exhibition takes visitors on an exciting journey. Hardly any other place could tell the story of Rhine shipping—and thus also the history of KD than this museum.” The exhibition also features an interactive scavenger hunt for visitors of all ages. Letters are hidden throughout the museum in specially marked anniversary display cases; when put together, they form a solution word. Those who search carefully and find the correct word have a chance to win attractive prizes.
Mutual Discounts
After touring the exhibition, it’s worth stopping by the museum café “Laterne.” In addition to its culinary offerings, it provides an impressive 360-degree panoramic view of the Rhine, the promenade, the Old Town, and the passing ships. Before or after your museum visit, you might enjoy a panoramic cruise on the KD “MS RheinPoesie” or “MS RheinGalaxie.” The KD is located right next to the museum on the riverside promenade below the castle tower. KD receive reduced museum admission of 1.50 euros upon presentation of a valid KD. Museum visitors, in turn, receive a 20 percent discount on KD upon presentation of their admission ticket at the KD Office on Burgplatz.
, the Maritime Museum on Burgplatz in Düsseldorf