The society was founded in 1873 in imitation of similar groups formed by other major European countries, such as France (1821: Société de Géographie de Paris), England (1830: Royal Geographical Society), Germany (Berlin, 1828, 1836 Frankfurt, Munich, 1869, Bremen 1870 Hamburg, 1873, Leipzig 1861), and Russia (St. Petersburg] 1845).
Colonial territories were largely often no more than a number of administrative posts on the coast, from where trade was operated by tribes from the interior.
Expeditions were also conducted on the areas of Boer Dorslandtrekkers in the interior of Angola and the indigenous peoples (then called Indians) of North America.
If an expedition data had an area could be set both routes for the movement, for example, coal or bauxite, but also regions could be placed under effective political governance, which were previously controlled only nominally.
The military escort increased as more hostilities were found in front of members of the expedition by local indigenous residents.
Then in the second half of the nineteenth century, several European countries found some expeditions to the Arctic sins that the Netherlands could not stay behind.
[1] Although some disagreements between the organizing committee and the AG were launched last still a national collection, which raised enough money to build a schooner and equip.
In 1878 Willem Barents went first northwards, to explore under the leadership of Lieutenant Anthony Hubers Svalbard, Jan Mayen and the west coast of Novaya Zemlya.
As Dutch colonies became independent, the work of the KNAG focused less and less on economic issues, and became increasingly concerned with scientific questions.