Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport: A Name Evolution Over Time

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, known informally as Schiphol Airport, is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It opened on 16 September 1916 as a military airfield and has since become one of the busiest airports in the world.

The origin of the name Schiphol is a mystery to many, with several theories being proposed. The name first appeared in old documents from around 1450 and is thought to refer to a stretch of land in the Haarlemmermeer area, which was reclaimed from the water in 1852. The area used to be a turbulent inland sea where many ships were lost, leading to some believing that the name comes from Ships Hell or the Dutch Scheepshol, where hol means grave. Another theory suggests that the name derives from the Dutch word scheepshaal, a ditch used for towing ships from one lake to another. However, the true origin of the name remains uncertain.

Schiphol Airport's name origin

The origin of the name of Schiphol Airport has been a mystery to many, with several contested theories. The name first appeared in old documents from around 1447 or 1450, referring to a stretch of land in the Haarlemmermeer area. This area was reclaimed from the water in 1852 and used to be an inland sea where many ships were lost.

One theory suggests that the name comes from the Dutch "Scheepshol", meaning "Ships Hell", where "hol" means "grave". This implies that the Schiphol area was where ships would sink to the bottom of the lake. However, this theory has been debunked by the airport's media department, which states that the name has no connection to water or ships.

Another explanation is that "Schiphol" comes from the Dutch word "scheepshaal", which refers to a ditch or canal used for towing ships between lakes. However, this theory has also been dismissed as the name bears no relation to water or ships.

A third theory suggests that the name derives from the Gothic words "scip" or "skip" (meaning wood or timber) and "hol" or "holl" (meaning low-lying wetland or land). Thus, "Schiphol" could refer to an area of wetland where wood for building ships could be extracted. This theory is supported by the fact that the area was once a marshy region where people gathered wood. Additionally, a fort was built on this spot, which was also named Schiphol.

Despite these various theories, the exact origin of the name "Schiphol" remains uncertain.

Schiphol Airport's history

Schiphol Airport, the main international airport of the Netherlands, has a long and fascinating history. Located just 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, the airport has its origins in the 15th century when the area was known as Schiphol, a name with several possible origins. One theory suggests it comes from the Gothic words 'Skip' (meaning wood or timber) and 'Holl' (low-lying land), referring to an area of marshy land. Another theory claims it comes from 'Scheepshol', or 'ship hell', as the Haarlemmermeer Lake, which previously covered the area, was known for its violent storms that caused many ships to sink.

In the 19th century, the lake was drained and the land was reclaimed. Fort Schiphol was built in the area as part of the Stelling van Amsterdam defence works. Then, on 16 September 1916, Schiphol opened as a military airbase, with a few barracks and fields serving as runways. Just over a year later, on 17 December 1920, the airfield was opened for civilian use, with the first passenger flight arriving from London in May 1920. During this time, the airfield was often called 'Schiphol-les-bains'.

By 1940, Schiphol had four asphalt runways, but its peaceful existence was soon disrupted by World War II. In 1940, the airport was captured by the German military, who renamed it Fliegerhorst Schiphol. Despite the construction of decoy airfields to confuse bombers, Schiphol was heavily bombed and largely destroyed. However, after the war ended, the airfield was quickly restored, and a new terminal building was completed in 1949.

In 1949, Schiphol was designated as the primary airport of the Netherlands, leading to its rapid expansion. This came at a cost, as the nearby town of Rijk had to be demolished to make way for the growing airport. The new terminal area, which opened in 1967, marked a significant step in the airport's growth, with parts of it still in use today.

Over the years, Schiphol Airport has continued to expand and modernise, adding new piers, terminals, and runways. It has become one of the busiest airports in Europe, handling millions of passengers each year. Today, it is known for its unique design, featuring a single large terminal with three departure halls and an impressive six runways.

Schiphol Airport's terminal and lounge system

Schiphol Airport has a single-terminal concept, with all facilities located under one roof. The terminal is split into three departure halls, which are designated 1, 2, and 3. Each departure hall is served by multiple piers, which are designated by letters.

Departure Hall 1 consists of Piers B and C, which are dedicated to Schengen areas, and share Pier D with Departure Hall 2. Pier B has 14 gates, and Pier C has 21 gates.

Departure Hall 2 consists of Piers D and E. Pier D, the largest pier, has two levels. The lower floor is for non-Schengen flights, and the upper floor is for Schengen flights. Pier E is dedicated to non-Schengen flights and is home to airlines such as Delta Air Lines, KLM, China Airlines, and China Southern Airlines.

Departure Hall 3 consists of Piers F, G, and H/M. Piers F and G are non-Schengen areas, while Piers H and M are physically one concourse, with Pier H handling non-Schengen flights and Pier M dedicated to Schengen flights.

Schiphol Airport also has several lounges, including the Privium Lounges, shopping lounges, and airline lounges. Privium Lounges are exclusive to Privium members and offer various amenities such as comfortable seating, free WiFi, culinary treats, and a selection of international media. The airline lounges include the KLM Crown Lounge, Aspire Lounges, Star Alliance Lounge, and oneworld Lounge, which are accessible to certain members and passengers of specific airlines.

Schiphol Airport's runways

Schiphol Airport has six runways, one of which is used mainly by general aviation, private jets, and helicopters. The airport typically uses two runways at a time, one for departures and one for arrivals. The other five runways are:

06/24 'Kaagbaan', 3,500 meters long.

Named after Kaag, a small village that lies beyond the southwest end of the runway, Kaagbaan opened in 1960.

09/27 'Buitenveldertbaan', 3,453 meters long.

Buitenveldertbaan is named after the neighbourhood of Amsterdam that lies under its approach. It opened in 1967.

18C/36C 'Zwanenburgbaan', 3,300 meters long.

Zwanenburgbaan is named after the village of Zwanenburg that lies under its approach. It opened in 1968.

18L/36R 'Aalsmeerbaan', 3,400 meters long.

Aalsmeerbaan is named after the town of Aalsmeer, which lies beyond the end of the runway. It opened in 1967.

18R/36L 'Polderbaan', 3,800 meters long.

Polderbaan, the newest runway, opened in 2003. It is located at quite some distance from the main terminal building, requiring a 10-20 minute taxi. It has its own control tower and is used for takeoffs northbound and landings southbound.

The sixth runway, 'Oostbaan', is 2,014 meters long and handles general aviation traffic. It opened in 1945 and is the oldest of the runways.

Schiphol Airport's location

Schiphol Airport is located in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, and 18 kilometres from the city centre, making it a popular choice for visitors to the city.

The airport is built on land that was once a lake. Before 1852, the polder of Haarlemmermeer, in which the airport lies, was a large lake with some shallow areas. The lake was dredged in the mid-1800s, and a fortification named Fort Schiphol was built in the area, as part of the Stelling van Amsterdam defence works. The name Schiphol appears in an official document from 1447, and may refer to a stretch of land in the Gothic language, indicating an area of low-lying wetland ("hol" or "holl") where wood ("scip") could be extracted.

Schiphol Airport is easily accessible by car via the A4 and A9 motorways. It is also served by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the national Dutch train operator, which offers transportation 24 hours a day to and from Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam. The airport is also accessible by bus, with many services calling or terminating at the bus station located in front of the terminal building.

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