Nedlloyd was the product of a merger of different Dutch shipping companies (1970-1981):  Stoomvaart Maatschappij "Nederland" (SMN), Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd (KRL), Koninklijke Java-China Paketvaartlijnen (KJCPL), Verenigde Nederlandsche Scheepvaart-maatschappij (VNS) and Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot-Maatschappij (KSNM).

In 1997 the Division Nedlloyd Lines merged with P&O Containers to form P&O Nedlloyd. In 2004 Nedlloyd ceased to exist. The art collection came into being through gifts from staff and agents, from wharf models and acquisitions for the decoration of ship interiors and board rooms.

Between 1990-2000 Jacq. van der Hidde was appointed conservator and as such catalogued the collection, completed it and had items restored when necessary. Finally he prepared the collection for its transition to museums for permanent display.