Schiphol's tips for a smooth departure in the May holiday
The May holiday at Schiphol starts on Friday. From then on and for the next two weeks, tens of thousands of holidaymakers will fly from the airport to family, friends and various travel destinations every day. Friday 18 April promises to be one of the busiest days, with almost 86,000 travellers starting their journey. The holiday period runs until Monday 5 May, a national holiday this year. To ensure a smooth journey, the airport has some tips for travellers so that they can prepare well.
Every day in the May holiday will see more than 180,000 travellers. On the busiest days, there will be up to 215,000 – a mix of departing, arriving and transferring passengers.
In total, Schiphol expects just under 3.5 million travellers this May holiday. That is a 6.2% increase compared with the same period last year, when around 3.3 million passengers travelled to, from or via Schiphol.
Popular destinations
This May holiday, many travellers have opted for destinations in Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy. The United States, Greece and Turkey are also popular countries. The top 10 is rounded off by Portugal, Germany, France and Switzerland.
Tips for a smooth journey
To make the journey as smooth as possible, Schiphol has the following tips for travellers:
- Opt for public transport: The start of the May holiday means congestion on the roads – public transport is often more convenient.
- Plan in advance: Check in online if possible and stick to the arrival times advised by the airline (usually 2 hours before departure for European flights and 3 hours for intercontinental flights).
- Make use of free time slots for security: They help you get through security faster. These can be booked from three days before departure in the Schiphol app and on schiphol.nl.
- Travel smart: Pack smart, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Reisapp.
- Direct overview of your arrival – check the Schiphol app or website: The latest update to the Schiphol website and app gives you real-time insight into your timing at the airport after landing. By cleverly combining actual walking and waiting times, Schiphol offers a reliable overview of your journey through the terminal – from landing to the baggage carousel to the moment you start your journey home.