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CERTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Exhibit 12.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Leo M. van Wijk, certify that:



|1. |  | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F/A of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;
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|2. |  | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
annual report;
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|3. |  | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
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|4. |  | The companys other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the
company and have:
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| | a. |  | Designed such disclosure controls and
procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us
by others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this annual report is being prepared;
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| | b. |  | [Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-8238.]
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| | c. |  | Evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about
the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this annual report based on such
evaluation; and
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| | d. |  | Disclosed in this annual report any change in the companys internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys internal control
over financial reporting; and
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|5. |  | The companys other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the companys
auditors and the audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
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| | a. |  | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the companys ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information; and
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| | b. |  | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the companys internal
control over financial reporting.
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Date: January 9, 2004
    
    /s/ LEO M. VAN WIJKL.M. van WijkPresident and Chief Executive Officer


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