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General Info last validated: oct08 |
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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is no. 4 in Europe in terms of movements and passenger numbers, utilizing two to four runways simultaneously throughout the day. More than half of the passengers here are in transit and a good deal of the traffic is intercontinental. Schiphol is the home base for most of the Dutch airlines and a hub for KLM partner Northwest Airlines. Commuter traffic is frequent too although regional jets take over more and more from turboprops. The airport is playing a major role in the European cargo scene, so plenty of cargo planes from all over the world can be seen here. Finally, low-cost carriers with their short turn-around times have established themselves in the scene and even utilise dedicated gates. |
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Schiphol's attitude towards airplane enthusiasts has long been somewhat neutral. There are two official viewing areas left and photography is allowed from any place with public access. Practising our hobby from other locations is not encouraged but usually not acted against either. Important is to adhere to traffic rules, so park only where it is allowed and do not block exits. However, recent developments in airport expansion and tighter security measures are rendering more and more good spots unusable, or at least less attractive. |
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Layout |
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Over the decades, Schiphol has kept on expanding to the west. What is left of the old airport of the fifties is now in use as General Aviation Terminal and technical area and called 'Schiphol East'. The central area, laid out at the end of the sixties, is where four of the five main runways are. Even further to the northwest lies the newest, 'fifth', runway. The airport is close to the city of Amsterdam but surrounded mainly by farmland and roads, creating many opportunities to view air traffic. There is, however, no spot where you can 'catch it all' and the constant changes in runway use (dictated by traffic flows and noise abatement rules) make it virtually impossible to predict what you will get. |
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Getting There |
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As with most major airports, public transport is abundant. Trains connect to the city centre many times an hour and to the rest of the country regularly. Buses run to the city too as well as to neighbouring communities. On the airport itself these buses stop at nearly every location except for the 'far northwest'. The public has to pay a fee to get on in accordance with the standard Dutch zoning system. See the 'Public transport' link in the panel on the lower right for detailed information. |
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When travelling by car, there should be no problem to find the airport, but getting around to the place of your choice could be a different story. Study the above map carefully for help and be aware that the motorways are somewhat independent of the local roads, with few connections. Finally, Holland cares for cyclists, even at the national airport. There are many shortcuts for those pedaling, the only exception being the connection between Schiphol Center and East. |
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Around The Airport |
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Apart from these spots there are more possibilities for those who look well or want a specific view, but generally these will suit all needs. For photography the average lenses will do fine at the mentioned locations. |
 Panorama Terrace |
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Actually two parts on top of terminals 1 and 2 but connected. The terrace overlooks the aprons from D to F and gives views of runways 24 (limited), 18L and 27. Also, Schiphol East and runway 22 are visible in the distance. Most of the traffic will at least taxi within view here when inbound or outbound, but certainly not all of it. Especially commuters may escape you when staying here. The fence is conveniently low, so good for photography. Entrance is free and opening hours are roughly during daylight with restaurants and toilets adjacent. The rest of the terminal area offers limited possibilities to those who go looking for them. |
 R-apron |
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Assuming you travel by car, leave the terminal area but do not enter the motorway. Drive southbound until you pass underneath a taxiway, then take second left. Next to a crash gate the cargo stands on this apron can be seen, and aircraft can be photographed provided you bring steps. There are limited possibilities for pictures of 06/24 traffic in the evening. Stay with the car, there is no public parking here. |
 Final 06 |
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Leave spot 2 and carry on to the south, parallel to the motorway. At the end turn left onto the byway of the N201. This goes right underneath final 06, the so-called 'Kaagbaan'. Alas, parking is not possible here so if you want to stay at spot 3 either walk there from a distant parking, take a bus or ride a bike. The view is good and the excitement of the jet noise can be high. |
 South side 06 |
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As of 27 January 2008, Schiphol's most famous and official 'Spottersplaats' has been declared 'closed'. By early May 2008, it actually became inaccessible. This is very unfortunate, as it was a great viewing area and the access road had a long tradition in aircraft spotting in Amsterdam. Expanding cargo facilities put that to an end. A half-decent alternative has been found in the first part of the Aalsmeerderweg, where buildings have been taken down and some parking space exists: the current spot 4. It can be reached from spot 3 and from Schiphol-Rijk, but not directly from the N201. |
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Runway 06/24 or 'Kaagbaan' has more traffic than any other, and the light is OK until halfway the afternoon. The current spots (actual situation subject to construction works) are more than 500m away from the runway, so photography is limited to long lenses in good visibility. Reading numbers of 06/24 traffic should be no problem but other (taxiing) traffic is now generally too far away. The magnificent close views on traffic from/to the S-apron are history as well. |
 Fuel depot |
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The airfield entrance near the fuel depot has been brought forward, with a barrier and guards exactly where the vantage point used to be. The present alternative is the open field just south of it. Cars can be left for a while between parked trucks on the road around the freight handling area. This spot is now quite far from the beginning of 18L so many aircraft are already quite high when passing it. The view is great otherwise, without obstructions for the time being. Good spot for afternoon landing shots on 36R, no steps needed in the field. |
 Final 36R pm |
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The business area next to the approach lights makes legal parking possible and a short walk brings you to spots west of, or in, the centreline, more or less suitable for afternoon photography. The situation has deteriorated due to construction work, large mounds of soil now block the view towards the runway. If you just want the numbers the terminal is probably better. |
 Final 36R am |
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Another location for the 'Aalsmeerbaan' - actually two of them. Firstly, directly along the Fokkerweg parking is possible for a nice view at landings on 36R. A bit to the north lies another industrial estate with lots of parking space during weekends (very limited on working days) where you can see the planes even lower. From here even heavies departing 18L can be photographed. Both spots obviously have good light in the morning. |
 Schiphol-Oost |
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Schiphol's General Aviaton Terminal, and the technical area where you can see aircraft parked on aprons lower than boats in the adjacent canal! This area is easy to find and accessible from the Fokkerweg (from the south), the Schipholdijk (from the motorway) and the perimeter road (Loevesteinse Randweg, from the central area). The GA apron is also where the DDA and police hangars are. Photography on that apron is possible with steps, short-term parking should be no problem. Aircraft in the maintenance base - actually all of the area between spot 7 and 8 - usually cannot be photographed from outside the fence but some registrations can be read off. |
 Final 27 |
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The abovementioned perimeter road crosses the approach lights of 22 and 27 and has unrestricted access from the designated entries. Parking and even stopping is not allowed here, so to spend some time at spot 9 park at East and walk, or walk from a bus stop (bicycles not allowed here). Again, this is a spot where you can stand right underneath landing heavies, quite a thrill. Runway 27 ('Buitenveldertbaan') is often not in use though, and runway 22 is merely for bizjets and light props of which there will be not too many. However, you may be lucky... |
 McDonald's |
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Once a wasteland, this is the third official viewing area combined with a fast food restaurant. Often not the best option though due to backlight and lack of traffic (runway 09/27 is the most noise-sensitive one). However, a large part of the central area and East (GAT and maintenance base) are visible from here. With this runway active expect landings on 27 or departures from 09; they are rarely the other way around. |
 Beginning 18L |
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This spot is reachable by bus, bicycle and on foot as access by cars is restricted. The bus stop to get off is called 'Elzenhof', see our link to Openbaar Vervoer under More Info on the right. The spot offers a rather close view on traffic departing from the beginning of 18L, and offers good options for photos in the morning. |
 Final 18C |
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To get here, leave the airport grounds and turn left onto the N232 towards Badhoevedorp from spot 10. Turn left again onto the Sloterweg in Badhoevedorp (Dorint Novotel on the corner) and then right onto the Tweeduizend El. This is the through-road at that point and you will see a VOR (antenna array) near the end. Pick your spot next to the approach lights but stay with the car, as this is no official parking spot. Just around the corner, west of the threshold, a short dead-end road gives some legal parking space. Runway 18C ('Zwanenburgbaan') is used irregularly for landings but when it is this is a fine viewing place. |
 Vijfhuizerweg |
In the old days, before the existence of motorway A5 and the 'fifth' runway, photography and viewing along (then) 19R used to be excellent. Now the view is more distant and obstructed, but not all is lost. Departures from 36C (often) or 18C (now and then) usually climb above the fence quickly enough to take pictures of them, albeit with quite a long lens which is unusual at Schiphol.
A new attraction in this area is Taxiway Victor connecting 18R/36L with the rest of Schiphol. Aircraft taxiing here do not only cross over the A5 but also over a canal (the Hoofdvaart)! Especially if you bring steps taking photos along this taxiway is well possible, even near the canal bridges. If you're mainly after numbers this is probably the best spot with the two western runways in use. Parking is prohibited along the connecting taxiway, which is enforced by police. Use the pull-outs south of the spot, or the cemetary parking facilities. |
 Polderbaan a.m. |
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This spot is at one of the dead ends of the cut-up IJweg. To reach it from spot 11 turn right onto the Hoofdweg (Oostzijde), then left at the traffic lights and after passing underneath the A5 left again at the traffic lights in Boesingheliede. A small roundabout and the verge offers some parking space and the view on 18R/36L is great. Be aware that departures are always on 36L, landings always on 18R. Do not block the airfield gates please, and stay clear of the farmland or risk big trouble! |
 Final 18R |
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If you park along the byroad of the N232 and walk a little towards the approach lights, traffic on final for 18R can be photographed nicely. Especially in the morning this is a great spot and is gaining popularity. Some people park in front of the crash gate on the centreline but this must be avoided. An alternative for evening light photography is to find a spot off the road that leads north from the roundabout near the approach lights (Spaarnwouderweg). It is amazing how far away from (the rest of) Schiphol you are here...7-8 kilometres! |
 Polderbaan p.m. (halfway) |
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One of two spots not far from each other, but giving different views. From spot 14, take a kind of left at the roundabout and left again at the traffic lights onto the Driemerenweg (N205). At the next lights turn left again and another final left at the junction with the IJweg (unusual situation with a bump). There is a roundabout similar to the one on the opposite side, plus a new official 'Spottersplaats' with parking lot (opened early in 2008). The view on the Polderbaan is nearly unobstructed and photography is good for both directions of runway use. With landing traffic the shots get more interesting by moving north along the cycling track (so riding here by bike is not a bad idea).
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 Polderbaan p.m. (south) |
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The last spot in this long list, and one that quickly gained enough fame (together with spot 13) to attract many enthusiasts for a day at the newest runway. Access is via the last junction described at spot 15, again to one of those small roundabouts and a crash gate. It used to be possible to walk along the ditch, further towards the threshold for marvelous head-on views of aircraft lining up on 36L, notably the heavies. Unfortunately, this option too has been terminated by a gate some 50 m from the roundabout. |
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