Skip to main content
Image from KLM

Arrival by plane

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the primary international airport in the Netherlands, is located about 20 kilometres from Amsterdam. Ninety airlines fly to and from Schiphol and have offices at the airport or in Amsterdam. You can reach the city from Schiphol in just half an hour by train, taxi or hotel shuttle.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is situated approximately 20 km south-west of Amsterdam. Schiphol is a national and international airport and handles over 48 million passengers a year traveling to 260 destinations worldwide. Schiphol is Europe’s fifth largest passenger airport.

One-stop shopping

Schiphol is also a well-organised airport. The arrival and departure halls are located under the same roof as the shopping centre, Schiphol Plaza. Clear signage guides you easily to your destination. After passing customs, you will reach the shops and bars of Schiphol Plaza. From here you are offered a selection of transportation methods into Amsterdam.

Tax-free shopping

Non-EU residents are eligible to get back the Value Added Tax (VAT) on purchases in the European Union. In the Netherlands the VAT is 21% and the minimum spend is €50. To claim a refund, visit Customs before leaving the EU to get a stamp. You can either send the stamped receipt back to the store for a full VAT refund or make use of the following services:

Shop only at retailers affiliated with Global Blue. Ask for a tax-free cheque and then reclaim the VAT at their desk at the airport. Visit www.global-blue.com for more information.

Shop wherever you like, save your purchase receipt and then reclaim the VAT online or at the VAT Free service desk at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, departure hall 3. Visit www.vatfree.com for more information.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was established on 7 October 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name.

KLM Group KLM and KLM Cityhopper form the heart of the KLM Group. Via a vast network of 92 European cities and 70 intercontinental destinations, KLM offers direct services to key economic centers all over the world. KLM is a partner in the SkyTeam Alliance, which offers passengers even more possibilities, jointly serving 1,063 destinations in 173 countries. The KLM Group also includes the wholly-owned subsidiaries Transavia and Martinair. Transavia is the leading low-cost airline in the Netherlands, carrying almost 9 million passengers in 2018, operating out of Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam.

KLM pursues profitable growth in order to achieve its own commercial objectives as well as more general economic and social objectives. KLM is actively driving sustainable growth at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and seeks to gain access to any market that will improve the quality of its network. In addition, KLM endeavours to ensure a level playing field for all participants in the sector.

Airport Transfers

Are you travelling from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre or vice versa? Here’s a breakdown of the most convenient options for getting to and from the terminal so you can start enjoying your trip.

Regional airports

Many smaller airlines also fly to regional airports such as Rotterdam or Eindhoven, or airports near the Dutch border. From these, you can travel via public transport or taxi to Amsterdam. To travel to and from Eindhoven airport to Amsterdam you can use the Air Express Bus.

Find more details about transportation to airports on www.schiphol.nl.