AMS Airport: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at a Glance

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the main international airport of the Netherlands and the gateway to Amsterdam. Its IATA code is AMS, the three letters you see on tickets and bag tags, and its ICAO code is EHAM. Most people simply call it Schiphol, pronounced roughly "SKIP-hol". Searches for "ams airport", "amsterdam airport" and "schiphol airport" all point to the same place, as does the common misspelling "Schipol".

The airport is run by Royal Schiphol Group. It is the home base of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, so a large share of its flights are KLM services and connections. For travellers from Southeast Asia, Schiphol is often the first stop in Europe, either as the end of the trip or as a transfer point to other European cities.

Dutch speakers searching for "vluchten Amsterdam" or "vliegtickets Schiphol" mean exactly the same thing: flights and air tickets to and from this airport.

Where Schiphol Airport Is: Location Near Amsterdam

Schiphol is southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland. It is close enough to the capital that the train into Amsterdam Centraal takes well under half an hour, which makes it one of the easiest big airports in Europe to leave.

The airport is also well placed for the rest of the country. Direct trains link Schiphol with cities such as Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, and the motorway network surrounds it. Many visitors land at Schiphol and head straight to another Dutch city without going into Amsterdam at all.

Amsterdam Schiphol Terminal Layout

Unlike many large airports, Schiphol has one terminal building. It is split into three departure halls, numbered 1, 2 and 3, all under the same roof. Your airline and destination decide which hall you check in at, so look at your booking or the screens in the main hall before joining a queue.

Piers and gates

Beyond security, the departure halls lead to piers lettered B, C, D, E, F, G, H and M. The gate letter on your boarding pass tells you which pier to walk to. The piers are linked airside, and signs show walking times, but at busy times it can still take a while to reach the far end of a pier.

Schengen and non-Schengen areas

The Netherlands is part of Europe's Schengen area. Flights to other Schengen countries leave from Schengen gates with no passport control. Flights to the UK, Asia, the Americas and other non-Schengen destinations leave from non-Schengen gates, and you pass through passport control on the way. Most long-haul flights to Singapore and the rest of Asia leave from the non-Schengen area. Allow time for that border check.

Schiphol Plaza

On the public side, Schiphol Plaza is the large hall just after arrivals. It connects the terminal to the railway station underneath and has shops, cafés and service desks. Anyone can use it, including people meeting arriving passengers.

Facilities at Schiphol Airport

Schiphol is built for passengers who spend time between flights, so the facilities go beyond the basics:

• Free Wi-Fi across the terminal, with no need to buy a plan.
• Meditation Centre: a quiet room for prayer and reflection, open to people of all faiths. It is after security, on the upper floor of Lounge 2, near the start of Pier E.
• Luggage lockers for storing bags for a few hours or longer, useful if you want to explore Amsterdam on a long layover.
• Shops and duty-free after security, with Dutch cheese, flower bulbs, stroopwafels and chocolate alongside fragrances and electronics.
• Restaurants and cafés in the lounges, on the piers and in Schiphol Plaza.
• Currency exchange offices in several parts of the terminal.

If you need wheelchair help or other assistance, request it through your airline when you book so staff can meet you at the aircraft or the check-in desk.

Airlines and Routes at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Schiphol is the hub of KLM, which flies from Amsterdam across Europe and to North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. KLM's regional arm, KLM Cityhopper, runs many of the shorter European routes. Transavia, a low-cost airline in the same group as KLM, also has a large base here, as does easyJet.

For travellers in Singapore, both KLM and Singapore Airlines fly nonstop between Singapore and Amsterdam, a long-haul journey of around 13 to 14 hours. From Malaysia, most trips to Schiphol involve one connection, often through the Middle East, Singapore or another European hub.

Schiphol also has pier M, which is mostly used by low-cost carriers. Airline line-ups and schedules change by season, so search "flights to AMS" or "flights from Amsterdam Schiphol" with your dates to see what is flying now.

Getting from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam and Beyond

Train

The train is the quickest way into the city. The station is directly beneath Schiphol Plaza: take the escalators down to the platforms. Trains run to Amsterdam Centraal many times an hour, and the journey takes roughly 15 minutes. Other direct trains serve Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card at the card readers at the top of the escalators, or buy a ticket from the machines in the Plaza.

Bus 397: Amsterdam Airport Express

The Amsterdam Airport Express, bus 397, runs from outside Schiphol Plaza to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum area and Leidseplein, with no change of bus. It suits travellers staying near the museums or in the southern canal belt. At night, bus N97 takes over.

Taxi and ride-hailing

Taxis wait at the official taxi rank outside the arrivals area. In light traffic the drive to central Amsterdam is roughly as quick as the train, but traffic can make it much slower. Ride-hailing apps also work at Schiphol and use a separate pick-up area.

Car rental and parking

Car rental desks are in Schiphol Plaza, and there are several car parks by the terminal for people driving in. Parking close to the building costs more than the longer-stay lots further out.

Tips for Departing from Amsterdam Schiphol

• Allow enough time. For flights within the Schengen area, arriving two hours before departure is usually enough. For long-haul and other non-Schengen flights, allow three hours, as you also need to clear passport control.
• Check your departure hall. Schiphol has three departure halls in one building. Find yours on your booking or the screens before queuing.
• Watch the walking time. Some gates are at the far end of long piers. Head to your pier early and follow the signs.
• Peak periods are busy. European school holidays, summer weekends and early mornings bring long queues at security.
• Pack liquids correctly. Keep liquids in hand luggage within the airline's limits and follow the instructions at the security lane you are sent to.
• Dress for the weather. Dutch weather changes quickly and winters are cold and wet, so keep a jacket handy for the trip into the city.

Exploring Amsterdam from Schiphol

Amsterdam is compact and walkable, so even a short stay covers a lot. The canal belt, with its narrow gabled houses, is the heart of the old city and best seen on foot or from a canal boat. Museumplein, served directly by bus 397, is home to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum. The Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht is one of the city's most visited sights, and tickets are sold online in advance.

Beyond the city, the tulip fields and the Keukenhof gardens near Lisse draw visitors in spring. Zaanse Schans, with its working windmills, makes an easy half-day trip. Haarlem, a short train ride away, offers a quieter old town. With direct trains from the airport, day trips to The Hague, Delft or Rotterdam are simple too.

Planning a trip through Amsterdam? Compare Schiphol flights on Traveloka and set a Price Alert so you know when fares change.