Founded on 11 June 1826 in Cologne as the Preußisch-Rheinische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft, KD has shaped river navigation on the Rhine for two centuries. Scheduled services between Cologne and Mainz began in 1827 with the paddle steamer “Concordia”. Today, KD combines traditional passenger shipping on the Rhine, Main and Moselle with a strong focus on the event and conference market.
With a fleet of 15 vessels – including five dedicated event ships in Cologne for up to 1,650 guests – KD offers scalable settings for corporate events, networking formats and exclusive charters. In the 2000s, the company expanded its event portfolio with the “MS RheinMagie”, further strengthening its position in the market.
A central highlight of the anniversary year will be the celebratory weekend on 1 and 2 August 2026, featuring the Cologne Lights and a “Day of the Open Deck” with behind-the-scenes insights. An official ceremony with representatives from politics and business will take place on 11 June on the Rhine. Managing Director Nina Luig emphasises the close ties to the region and its partners built over two centuries.
Through initiatives such as a creative competition, complimentary cruises for 200 school classes and the #kdmoments storytelling campaign, KD is creating additional touchpoints – offering event planners fresh opportunities to integrate maritime heritage into contemporary event concepts.
Book your corporate event on the Rhine with KD here.