1866 

The Beginning 

In 1866 a few small Danish shipping companies merged to form the oldest large shipping company in Denmark: DFDS, " Det forenede Dampskibs- Selskab" (The United Steamship Company).

Today DFDS is a financially sound company, growing nicely, because through all the years of its existence, particularly the most recent ones, it has understood how to adapt its business idea - or philosophy - when necessary.

DFDS is still sailing on some of the same routes begun in the 1800s. And DFDS still has beautiful and exciting ships - fascinating to us all.

Development in DFDS in the period 1966-1999 has been more rapid in all areas than in the preceding 100 years. Technology has advanced with lightning speed, some activities have been discontinued, new ones have been started up and again suspended, others further developed and strengthened.

The organization has undergone changes several times. It has merged with a number of companies, and in 1971 the Company officially changed its name to DFDS A/S - The United Steamship Company A/S - as part of the growing internationalization.