Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Difference between revisions

Schiphol has three official viewing areas. The observation deck at Schiphol Plaza, the Mac Donalds overlooking 09/27 (Buitenveldertbaan), and a parking lot alongside 06/24 (Kaagbaan).

The airport hosts a large outdoor observation deck with great views of the terminal. There is also Dakota's Café & Bar, just inside the observation deck with good view if the weather is bad. Unfortunately the platform faces the sun most of the day. For photography it is therefor not too great. If you want to catch registrations this is a great place though! Just don't forget to bring your binoculars!

opening hours:

:summer 07:00 - 20:00

:winter 09:00 - 17:00

For now access to the observation deck is free of charge, however there are plans to change this. The turnstiles have already been installed, so it is probably a matter of time only.

Just in case you do want to go here, you can easily get here by busline 190, 191, 192, 193, 196, 198 or 199. Get of at busstop "Loevestijnse Dwarsweg", easily recognisable by the massive McDonalds sign.

This spot is really excellent, and quite possibly one of the best of the world. You are just a few hundred metres away from the Kaagbaan. This runway is used almost all day, and offers a view without fences. A levy is to keep you from entering the runway. along with video surveillance and regular driveby's by police.

By car you can also go here, and there is a lot space to park your car. When driving over the A4 motorway take exit the to Aalsmeer on the N201. At the end of the motorway exit, turn left towards Aalsmeer. At the first crossing you must go to the left, into the Aalsmeerderweg. At the end of this road is the parking lot.

You can either stay at the parking lot, or walk into the grass field adjacent to the parking area. Another option is to walk a bit further till the road makes a 90 degree turn. This is the closest you can get to cargo apron Gulf. Planes taxiing from Gulf to the runway pass by very closely. Mostly martinair MD11s and 747s, but also JAL Cargo 747. DAS Air Cargo DC-10 and most oversized charters.

You can get into the approach of the Kaagbaan, but you are not allowed to park here. You can easily park your car at the local Mac Donalds though, and walk the last 5 minutes. Just take the exit towards Hoofddorp/Aalsmeer on the A4 motorway. Park the car at the McDonalds across the intersection, and walk under the bridge towards the runway.

This runway is the back-up runway to the Kaagbaan, and only used during rush hours. Views are rather good here, and you can get close to the action. Both by car and by bus.

Going here by bus is also possibly by taking line 191 or 193 to busstop Anchoragelaan.<br>

To get into the approach from motorway A4 (the motorway running through Schiphol) you must follow the signs towards Hoofddorp. This will get you on the N201. Once there take the exit towards Boesingheliede (N520). If you follow this road for a few minutes you will find yourself in the approach. There is not an official parking area, so please be carefull where you park. Do not hinder the traffic, as this might give the police a reason to send you off (or worse, give Schiphol a reason to close the spot!).

The Polderbaan (18R/36L) is the newest runway, located in the middle of nowhere (by Dutch standards anyway). Because of that few people are annoyed by the aircraft noise, so this runway is used as much as possible.

Now you got two options. You can take the exit onto the N520 towards Boesingheliede. At the end of this road you must go to the left (onto Schipholweg), and then at the first crossing again to the left (IJweg). At the end of this road you can park and look over the Polderbaan from the east.

Another option is to stay at the N201. After 5 minutes you will be at a large intersection with on your right a fire station. At this intersection you must go to the right. Then take the second road to the right and continue to the end of this road. Now you will be looking over the Polderbaan from the west.

The eastern side of the polderbaan is preferably in the morning and early afternoon. After that the western side is preferable.

The taxiway linking this runway to Schiphol is also accesible. However, this place is always very busy. Also, there is a fence so a step ladder will be required. To get here get onto the N520 as mentioned earlier. After a few minutes you will drive under a bridge, this bridge is the taxiway. You can park your car at the cemetary just in front of the bridge on the western side of the river. Of course you can also park your car at the crashgate as many others do, but I would ask you not to. This place has attracted a lot of attention from the local autorities for all the wrong reasons. A lot of people park their car here rather dangerously. If this goes on this spot might well be closed.

Just 15 minutes walk from Schiphol Plaza is the taxiway over the A4 motorway. Planes taxi by really close by. Mostly European, but the cargo flights use this taxiway as well. To get here leave the terminal and walk to the left. You will walk past the ATC tower, cargo fascilities and some offices. You can't really miss it. You can spot the planes from either side of the taxiway, so this spot can be used all day.

Schiphol is connected to both local and regional buslines. The railways feature prominently too with local, national and international (Belgium, France and Germany) routes. The Nederlandse Spoorwegen claim that ANY station in the Netherlands can be reached with no more then two changes. Most mayor cities can be reached directly or with only one change.