Roberta Aguirre
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is the main international airport of the Netherlands. Located 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, it is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the world, serving over 70 million passengers annually. The airport, which opened in 1916 as a military airbase, is built on land that was once a large lake. Today, Schiphol has six runways and one large terminal split into eight concourses and three departure halls.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol |
| Location | 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland |
| Year of Opening | 1916 |
| Initial Use | Military airbase |
| Year Civilian Use Began | 1920 |
| Year of Primary Airport Designation | 1949 |
| Terminals | 1 |
| Departure Halls | 3 |
| Concourses | 8 |
| Runways | 6 |
| Area | 6,887 acres |
| Ranking (Europe) | Third busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic |
| Ranking (Worldwide) | Third busiest airport by international passenger traffic in 2023 |
| Passenger Volume (2019) | 71,706,999 |
| Passenger Volume (2020) | 20,884,044 |
| Annual Cargo Tonnage | 1.74 million |
| Awards | Best Airport in Western Europe in 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's history
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is one of the busiest airports in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest in Europe in terms of aircraft movements. The airport covers a total area of 6,887 acres of land.
The history of Schiphol Airport dates back to the 19th century when the wetland, which was previously a lake, was dredged for the construction of Fort Schiphol. During World War I, in 1916, the Dutch Ministry of War acquired the land in the Haarlemmermeer area to be used as a military airfield. The airport opened on 16 September 1916 as a military airbase, with barracks and a field serving as runways. In 1919, the Fokker aircraft manufacturer established a factory near the airport.
After World War I ended, civil aircraft were allowed to use the airfield from December 1920, marking the beginning of civilian use of Schiphol Airport. During this interwar period, the airport grew, and by 1940, it had four asphalt runways.
During World War II, the airport was considered a strategic target and suffered significant damage from bombings. When the Netherlands surrendered to Germany, the invading forces renamed the airport Fliegerhorst 561. The US dropped nearly 1,600 bombs on the airport in December 1944.
Post-World War II, Schiphol Airport underwent ambitious expansion plans, including the construction of a new traffic tower, a central terminal building, and additional runways. In the 1950s, the airport saw the opening of its first air traffic control tower and the first duty-free shop.
The airport continued to expand in the following decades, with new terminals and piers being added to accommodate larger jets and increasing passenger numbers. By the 1980s, Schiphol had become a major European hub, presenting the "Schiphol Master Plan 2003". Today, the airport features six runways and is known for its distinctive design, with boarding gates featuring double and triple jetways for widebody aircraft.
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Location and transport links
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is the primary airport of the Netherlands, located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. It is the main transportation option for people visiting Amsterdam, whether for vacation or work. The airport is built on the single-terminal concept: one large terminal, located three metres below sea level, split into three departure halls and eight concourses.
Schiphol is easily accessible by train, with a train station located directly underneath the airport. Trains operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing direct connections to Amsterdam and other major Dutch cities such as Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam. Passengers can also take a bus from the boarding area outside the main airport foyer, which is a cheap option for travelling to the city centre, although luggage space is limited.
Schiphol is the principal hub for KLM and its regional affiliate, KLM Cityhopper, as well as for Martinair. The airport also serves as a base for several other airlines, including Corendon Dutch Airlines, easyJet, Transavia, TUI fly Netherlands, and Vueling.
The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with almost 72 million passengers in 2019, ranking as the third busiest in Europe and the world's eleventh busiest by total passenger traffic. It is the busiest airport in Europe in terms of aircraft movements, with six runways, one of which is primarily used by general aviation.
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Airlines and flight routes
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, North Holland. It is the primary transportation option for people visiting Amsterdam, serving over 70 million passengers a year. The airport is built on the single-terminal concept, with one large terminal split into three departure halls.
Schiphol Airport is the main international airport of the Netherlands and is one of the major hubs for the SkyTeam airline alliance. It is the principal hub for KLM and its regional affiliate, KLM Cityhopper, as well as for Martinair. The airport also serves as an operating base for several other airlines, including Corendon Dutch Airlines, easyJet, Transavia, TUI fly Netherlands, and Vueling.
Various airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Amsterdam. The Italian national carrier, Alitalia, connects Amsterdam with Italy's two main cities, Rome and Milan. The French national carrier, Air France, links several French cities with Amsterdam and offers frequent services between Paris and Amsterdam. Delta, the largest US carrier, connects Amsterdam with Atlanta and New York's JFK Airport. EasyJet, a low-cost European carrier, links Amsterdam with the UK, Switzerland, and Italy.
Other notable airlines serving Schiphol Airport include Emirates, which operates the Airbus A380 on its double daily Dubai-Amsterdam service, and China Southern Airlines, which previously offered the A380 on its Beijing-Amsterdam route. Finnair, the Finnish national carrier, connects Amsterdam with Helsinki and offers connections to destinations in Asia. Iberia, the Spanish national carrier, links Amsterdam with Madrid and Barcelona and offers seasonal services to other Spanish destinations.
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Passenger traffic and statistics
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is the primary airport of the Netherlands. Located 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, it is the principal hub for KLM and its regional affiliate KLM Cityhopper, as well as for Martinair. The airport is built on the single-terminal concept: one large terminal split into three departure halls.
Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2019, the airport handled a record 71,706,999 passengers, making it the third busiest airport in Europe and the eleventh busiest in the world in terms of total passenger traffic. That year, 70.5% of passengers flew to and from Europe, 10.6% to and from North America, and 10.1% to and from Asia. The airport also transported 1.74 million tonnes of cargo, making it the fourth busiest in Europe in this regard.
The airport's busiest times are typically between 9:00 and 11:00 and between 13:00 and 15:00 for departures, with up to 58 departures between 14:00 and 15:00 on weekdays. During these peak hours, there is a departure nearly every minute. The peak time for arrivals is between 8:00 and 9:00, with up to 52 arrivals on weekdays.
In 2020, Schiphol Airport was voted the Best Airport in Western Europe. That year, the airport handled 20,884,044 passengers. However, the number of passengers was significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with only 52 million passengers in 2022, an 18% decrease from the previous year.
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Airport facilities and amenities
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. It is the primary transportation option for people visiting Amsterdam and is the main international airport of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has a range of facilities and amenities for travellers, including:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Banking services
- Medical services, including two medical clinics and a 24-hour pharmacy
- Luggage services
- Baby care lounges
- Meeting rooms
- Tax refund services
- Meditation and relaxation spaces
- A playground for children
- Lost and found services
- Baggage storage
- A transit hotel
- A permanent airport library with books, e-books, and music by Dutch artists
- Shopping, including luxury brands and local souvenirs
- Currency exchange services
- Automatic doors, toilets, lifts, and wheelchairs for disabled travellers
- A train station located underneath the airport, providing easy access to Amsterdam and other major cities in the Netherlands
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is the primary airport of the Netherlands and is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam.
Schiphol Airport has six runways, one of which is used mainly by general aviation.
The airport opened in 1916 as a military airbase and civilian aircraft began using the airport in 1920. It was decided in 1949 that Schiphol would become the primary airport of the Netherlands.
Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the world. It handled over 70 million passengers in 2019 and was ranked as the world's third busiest airport by international passenger traffic in 2023.
You can take a direct train from the train station located underneath Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam and other major cities in the Netherlands such as Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam. Trains operate 24 hours a day and are much cheaper than renting a car. You can also take a bus from the boarding area outside the main airport foyer, which is a cheap option but may not have enough space for luggage.
