Schiphol Airport: Which City Does It Serve?

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, also known as Schiphol Airport, is the largest and most important airport in the Netherlands. It is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a major hub for international passenger traffic and aircraft movements. The airport is easily accessible from the city by train, bus, taxi, or car, making it a popular choice for travellers visiting Amsterdam.

Schiphol Airport is 15km from Amsterdam

Schiphol Airport is located 15km from Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. It is the main international airport of the Netherlands and is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a major hub for the SkyTeam airline alliance. With nearly 72 million passengers in 2019, it is the third-busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest in terms of aircraft movements.

The airport is easily accessible from Amsterdam by car, train, bus, or taxi. It is located on the A4 and A9 freeways, which lead directly to the airport. Traffic jams can occur during rush hours due to its proximity to the city. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the national Dutch train operator, provides 24-hour transportation to and from the airport, with efficient and often direct services to Amsterdam and other cities in the country. The airport is also served by the Airport Express Bus 397, which provides connections to the city centre.

For travellers coming from Amsterdam, the train is the most convenient way to reach the airport. Tracks 1 and 2 offer domestic services via Amsterdam Zuid (South) or Amsterdam Centraal (Central), which are connected to the Amsterdam Metro. These services continue to other destinations in the Netherlands, such as Lelystad, Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Groningen. Schiphol is also a stop for the Eurostar international high-speed train, providing direct connections to Antwerp, Brussels, and Paris.

In addition to its role as a transportation hub, Schiphol Airport offers a range of amenities and attractions for passengers. The airport features a branch of the Rijksmuseum, showcasing art from the golden age of the Netherlands, including works by Rembrandt. It also has an airport library, providing access to books, e-books, and music related to Dutch culture and history. Schiphol offers a unique rooftop viewing area called the Panoramaterras, which is free to access for aviation enthusiasts and the public.

It is the largest and busiest airport in the Netherlands

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, known informally as Schiphol Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in the Netherlands. Located only 9-18 kilometres from the centre of Amsterdam, it is very popular with visitors to the city. Schiphol is the main international airport of the Netherlands and is one of the major hubs for the SkyTeam airline alliance. It is also the home base and hub for several airlines, including KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) and its subsidiary KLM Cityhopper, as well as Corendon Dutch Airlines, TUI fly Netherlands, Martinair, and Transavia.

With almost 72-75 million passengers a year, Schiphol is the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest in Europe in terms of aircraft movements. It is also the fourth busiest in Europe in terms of annual cargo tonnage, with 1.74 million. Schiphol is built on the single-terminal concept: one large terminal is split into three departure halls, making it very clear for its size. The one-terminal concept means you never have to leave the building when changing planes, although it can mean long walks from one connecting flight to another.

The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the national Dutch train operator, has a major passenger railway station directly underneath the passenger terminal complex. This offers transportation 24 hours a day to the four major cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam, as well as efficient and often direct services to many other cities in the country. The airport is also a stop for the Eurostar international high-speed train, connecting it directly to Antwerp, Brussels, and Paris Gare du Nord, as well as to Bourg St Maurice and Marseille.

Schiphol Airport also has a range of other amenities and attractions. It has its own airport library, which offers 1,200 books (translated into 29 languages) by Dutch authors on subjects relating to the country's history and culture, as well as e-books and music by Dutch artists and composers. The airport also has a large rooftop viewing area, called the Panoramaterras, which is free to access for the public and aviation enthusiasts. Since 2002, Schiphol has also had a branch of the Rijksmuseum, located directly in the airport building, displaying works by Jan van Goyen, Abraham Mignon, and Michiel van Mierevelt, among others.

Schiphol is a hub for airlines including KLM and Easyjet

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, or Schiphol Airport, is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. Schiphol is the third-busiest airport in Europe, with almost 72 million passengers in 2019.

Schiphol is a hub for several airlines, including KLM and Easyjet. KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) has its head office near the airport in Amsterveen, and the airline previously had its headquarters on the airport grounds. KLM CEO Marjan Rintel has stated that downsizing at the airport could put the airline's operating model and hub function at risk. KLM's subsidiary, KLM Cityhopper, is also based at Schiphol.

Easyjet has a presence at Schiphol, although it is set to lose 700 take-off and landing slots at the airport during the summer of 2024. This is due to the Dutch government's plans to reduce the number of flights to and from the airport to cut down on noise pollution.

Other airlines that use Schiphol as a hub include Corendon Dutch Airlines, TUI fly Netherlands, Martinair, and Transavia. The airport is also one of the major hubs for the SkyTeam airline alliance, which includes Delta Air Lines, China Airlines, and China Southern Airlines.

The airport has its own library and museum

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the main international airport of the Netherlands, is located 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. The airport is easily accessible from Amsterdam, with travellers taking just 17 minutes to get to the city via plane or train.

The museum at Schiphol Airport, located in the Schiphol terminal behind the passport control at the Holland Boulevard, between piers E and F, offers a small but carefully curated exhibition of classic paintings. The exhibition, a collaboration between the airport and the Rijksmuseum, has been in place since 2002. The exhibition features eight to ten masterpiece paintings, with the choice of paintings depending on the exhibition's theme. The exhibition changes regularly and covers themes linked to travelling, business, and the history of Dutch art. Previous exhibitions have included "Sunny Skies in the Golden Age", "Brueghel in Business", and "Vincent van Gogh: Nature Close-Up".

In addition to the library and museum, Schiphol Airport also boasts a large rooftop viewing area called the Panoramaterras, providing aviation enthusiasts with a unique perspective. The airport also features several other spotting sites, particularly along the newest Polderbaan runway and at the McDonald's restaurant on the north side of the airport.

Trains, buses, Ubers and taxis are transport options to/from the airport

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is located 9 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. It is the main international airport of the Netherlands and one of the busiest airports in Europe.

Trains

The Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the national Dutch train operator, has a major passenger railway station directly underneath the passenger terminal complex. Trains are available 24 hours a day to Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam. The train is the fastest method of public transportation to Amsterdam Centraal Station, taking around 25 minutes. Tickets to Amsterdam Central cost €6.70 in standard 2nd class or €10.34 in 1st class, including a €1.50 surcharge for a disposable ticket. You can also take an NS train to Amsterdam Zuid for €5.00, then connect to the metro for €3.40.

Buses

The Airport Express Bus 397 (operated by Connexion/R-NET) runs from Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Elandsgracht, with various stops including Olympic Stadium, Museumplein, and Leidseplein. The journey takes around 30 minutes, and buses operate from 0500 to 0030. A single Bus Tram Metro (BTM) ticket costs €6.50, while an open return ticket costs €11.75. For a cheaper option, you can take the GVB public bus 369 to Amsterdam Sloterdijk for €3.40, but this trip takes 40 minutes.

Ubers and Taxis

Uber is present in Amsterdam, and airport-city transfers cost around €62 (Uber Black) and €39 (UberX). Standard metered taxi fares will range from €50-€75 to central Amsterdam, but fixed-fare discounts may be offered by some companies.

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