KDS is founded in 1756 by the entrepreneurs Kuyper, Van Dam, and Smeer, who decided to apply their expertise in ocean freight forwarding in an own company. They founded their company in the harbour of Rotterdam. The initials of the three founders can be found in the company's name today. During more than 2.5 centuries, KDS has successfully dealt with difficult times (world wars, economical crises).

Between 1960 and 1980 KDS started to offer an Airfreight service to their customers. In 1986, with its own office at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the airfreight division of KDS, called KDS Air, split off from KDS Rotterdam. In 1994 KDS Air established itself as the first (!) company at the new business area Schiphol South-East, having their own warehouse. As KDS Air grew into a total provider of logistical services, in 1998 the name 'KDS Air' was changed into a name that better covered its activities: KDS Cargo.

KDS Cargo cooperates with selected agents all over the world. Like KDS Cargo, these agents consider personal service a highly important aspect of their service. Since 1998 KDS Cargo is member of the Hi-Tech Forwarder Network (HTFN). This is a network with reliable and highly qualified forwarding agents on all relevant locations in the world. Through this network we can use the local expertise of these forwarding agents in order to guarantee a swift and smooth handling of all your shipments worldwide.

In October 2010, KDS Cargo relocated to an ultra-modern facility at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol which is TAPA-A certified.

At present KDS Cargo’s services include airfreight forwarding, ocean freight forwarding, customs clearance, arranging road transport, physical distribution and storage.