Schiphol is ready for the summer holiday: everything you need to know as a traveller

The summer holidays begin for many people in the Netherlands. We are expecting 13 million passengers at Schiphol by the end of August, over 7 percent more than last year. Whether they are leaving for holidays, family visits or another type of trip, we’d like to help everyone get off to a good start. New this year is the option for travellers to stay informed about their flight through WhatsApp.

During this period, Schiphol will welcome more than 200,000 departing, arriving and transferring passengers every day.

Flight updates on WhatsApp
Travellers can now also receive notifications about their flight – such as gate changes, delays and boarding information – on WhatsApp. They can sign up for this service on Schiphol.nl by entering their flight number and choosing updates on WhatsApp. This makes it easy for travellers on the go to stay informed via a channel they use every day. More and more passengers are using it and letting us know that they like the service.

Popular destinations
This summer, most holidaymakers are flying to Spain, the United Kingdom and Greece. Italy, the United States and Turkey are also popular destinations. Rounding off the top 10 are Portugal, Germany, France and Ireland.

Tips for a smooth journey
Go well prepared: Schiphol offers travellers a number of handy tips to help their journey run as smoothly as possible.

1. Use public transportation. Take congestion and roadworks into account. Public transport often offers a good alternative.
2. Plan well. Check in online whenever possible and stick to the airline’s advised arrival time (usually 2 hours in advance for European flights and 3 hours for intercontinental flights).
3. Make use of free time slots for security. Go smoothly through the security check by booking a time slot using the Schiphol app or on Schiphol.nl. This can be done as early as three days before departure.
4. Travel smart. Pack handily, wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and remove old suitcase labels and barcode stickers from your hold baggage. Thanks to 3D CT scans, electronics do not need to be taken out of hand baggage. Liquids, gels, creams and pastes can only be taken in containers not exceeding 100 ml.
5. Power banks: always in hand baggage. Power banks are not allowed in your hold baggage. This is an international safety requirement. Most power banks consist of lithium-ion batteries, and these can overheat due to damage, breakdown or short-circuiting. When this happens, the battery gets hotter and hotter and can even catch fire. So always carry your power bank in your hand baggage.
6. Check your documents. Check the validity of your passport and use self-service passport control whenever possible. Pay extra attention to the rules when travelling with minors.
7. Be aware of customs rules. Find out in advance what can and cannot be brought into the country upon your return. This information can be found in the government’s Reisapp.
8. Up-to-date information for a smooth arrival. Use the Schiphol app, website or WhatsApp to receive real-time updates on your flight, walking and waiting times, and the progress of your journey through the terminal. This way, you can easily keep track from the moment you land to the moment you leave the airport.