A military field that became KLM’s home
Schiphol opened in 1916 as a military airfield on the polder south-west of Amsterdam, and KLM, the oldest airline still flying under its original name, began using it in 1920. The name is often said to come from ‘ship hole’, a reminder of the ships lost on the lake that once covered the area. The airport was destroyed in World War II and rebuilt, and in 1967 it moved its terminal to the current central location.
What you’ll see at Schiphol
KLM and its partners shape the schedule into waves: several times a day dozens of flights arrive within a short period, passengers connect, and a wave of departures follows. That makes for intense bursts of activity. The traffic mix includes KLM’s 777s and 787s to every continent, Cityhopper Embraers to European cities, low-cost carriers and freighters.
Runways and the ‘runway in use’
Schiphol has six runways: the Polderbaan (18R/36L), the Kaagbaan (06/24), the Buitenveldertbaan (09/27), the Aalsmeerbaan (18L/36R), the Zwanenburgbaan (18C/36C) and the short Oostbaan (04/22), used mainly by small aircraft. Usually two runways are used for landings and one or two for departures, chosen by wind and noise rules. The Polderbaan requires a taxi of up to 20 minutes from the terminal, crossing a motorway on a bridge.
Best times to watch
- Morning (07:00–10:00): the first big arrival wave from intercontinental flights.
- Midday: a large departure wave of KLM long-haul flights.
- Westerly gales: dramatic crosswind landings on the Polderbaan and Kaagbaan.
