If you’ve travelled to The Netherlands, you’ve probably travelled through Schiphol, Amsterdam airport. When I was little, I often went on holiday with my parents. We almost always travelled by airplane, and because we are Amsterdammers, our journey started at the Schiphol Airport. Even though I’ve been to the airport at least twenty times before I was 13, I don’t remember a lot of Schiphol. I do remember being impressed by the huge airplanes; I still am. Next to this, I recall listening to the music that could be controlled from the arm rests (magic?), great views from the tiny window, and my favourite part of flying: the airplane meals and complementary peanuts.
Last year was the first time in quite a few years I stepped into an airplane. Of course, my journey started at Schiphol. I was impressed by the massive airport, and couldn’t recall it being so big. Shops, restaurants and cafes were expected, but the library and museums caught my attention! I got curious about the airport, and did some reading. I found out some interesting things.
Old picture taken from the departure hall. Source: Schiphol
Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands, and one of the busiest in Europe. I was surprised to learn that the area where the airport is built on used to be a lake: Haarlemmermeer. After draining this lake, the Dutch built Fort Schiphol in 1852 to protect this polder. Its first use as an airport was many years later. It became a military airport in 1916, during the First World War. After the war, they started transport freight, mail, and later passengers. This ended when Nazi Germany bombed the airport in 1940. The Dutch rebuild the airport, and it could be used again in 1945. It took four years to build a new station hall. Schiphol has expanded quite a bit in the past seventy years.
Nowadays, Schiphol has six landing strips, and a total size of 2,787 hectare! In 2013 52,569,200 passengers arrived, departed and transferred in Schiphol. To give you something to compare this enormous number with, in 1920 this amount was only 440 passengers. Also in 2013, 440,057 planes arrived and departed from the airport. They counted ‘only’ 1,649 airplanes in 1940.
Just like in all big airports you’ll find bars, restaurants and stores in Schiphol. I love that there’s an airport library, meditation center, relaxing chairs, massage center, and even a park. Yes, a park! I wish I knew about this last time I went abroad.
Schiphol airport park. Source: Dearcustomer.nl
You have all the facilities you need in this major place. If you want, you never have to leave. It’s a nice environment, clean, and filled with kind people who are always willing to help you. Flying is not, and will probably never be my favourite way of travelling. But this has nothing to do with Schiphol of course. If anything, the airport has all the elements to prepare for a relaxed journey.
What are your experiences in Schiphol Airport? I’m curious, so please let me know.
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