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July 31, 2014
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August 11, 2014Amsterdam Schiphol Spotting Guide
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- last modified on November 29, 2019
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA: AMS, ICAO: EHAM) is the largest airport in the Netherlands and welcomed 63.6 million passengers in 2016. So if you are going to Amsterdam, don’t forget to make a stop at this interesting airport. The airport is the gateway to the Netherlands and Amsterdam has only international flights, with some small exceptions by businessjets and governmental flights.
The most popular destinations are in Europe. The following Airlines have a Hub in AMS: Corendon Dutch Airlines, Delta Airlines, Easyjet, KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Martinair Cargo, Transavia, TUI Netherlands and Vueling. There are flights to all continents except for Australia . The largest regular visitor into Amsterdam is the 2x daily Emirates A380 flight to Dubai.
There are also a lot of cargo destinations especially to Afrika, Asia and the Americas.
Amsterdam is one of the spotterfriendliest airports in Europe and apart from the huge viewing terrace on the terminal building, two special spotterplaces were created outside the airports perimeter. The one at the Polderbaan is the most frequented one with toilets and some small food places during the summer. Additionally there is the McDonald’s close to the RWY 27 threshold which has a large area outside to accomodate spotters and enthusiasts. As spotting is a well known hobby here everyone is tolerating you at the airport. Another good thing is that the use of a radio scanner for listening to ATC communications is allowed in this country.
A great 24h real time schedule, arrival and departure times, aircraft type, registration and destinations can be found here: https://schiphol.dutchplanespotters.nl/
Runway use can be monitored via: https://www.lvnl.nl/nl/airtraffic
Written by Patrick Weis, Jan Seba, Julian Mittnacht, Severin Hackenberger, Björn Van Brussel. Visited regulary by Bas Velders (local spotter). Last Update: October 2019
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 18R/36L | 3.800 m (12.467 ft) asphalt |
| 18C/36C | 3.300 m (10.827 ft) asphalt |
| 18L/36R | 3.400 m (11.155 ft) asphalt |
| 06/24 | 3.500 m (11.483 ft) asphalt |
| 09/27 | 3.453 m (11.329 ft) asphalt |
| 04/22 | 2.014 m (6.608 ft) asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Depature Hall 1 | Non Skyteam and KLM |
| Depature Hall 2 | Skyteam Airlines, like KLM, Delta, China Airlines, Chinas Southern and Other Middle Eastern and Asian except Emirates |
| Depature Hall 3 | Skyteam, Low Cost Carriers and Emirates because of the A380 |
| Airport Chart |  |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | On some spots necessary (where it is always mentioned), but as the airport is surrounded by waterways instead of fences, there a lots of spotting places where you won’t need a ladder. |
| Car/Public Transport | Recommended as the distances are enourmous. It can mean up to 20km from one end of the airport to another. |
| Restrooms | Terminal, Spotterplaats Polderbaan or McDonald’s |
| Drinks/Food | There are two McDonald’s, some restaurants in the terminal, several gas stations and supermarkets for example in Hoofddorp or Aalsmeer. |
| Hotels | Lots of hotels near the airport but nothing special to watch or photograph the planes. |
| Season | We suggest May-Oktober as this is the summertime. It can get very cold during the winter and a lot of fog can come up. |
| Runway Usage | |
| Norther Winds | Primary runways are 06 for arrivals and 36L for departures. During peak hours arrivals additionally on 36R and departures on 36C. |
| Southern Winds | Primary runways are 18R for arrivals and 24 for departures. During peak hours arrivals additionally on 18C and departures on 18L. |
| 18R/36L | Polderbaan – Always in use for landing or depatures as it is the longest runway and disturbs Amsterdam itself not that much. Only used for landings in 18 direction and for takeoffs in 36 direction. |
| 18C/36C | Zwanenburgbaan – During peak hours active in the same direction as the Polderbaan. |
| 18L/36R | Aalsmeerbaan – Normally active together with the Kaagbaan for the opposite movement type (landing/depatures) as the Polderbaan/Zwanenburgbaan. Only used for landings in 36 direction and for takeoffs in 18 direction. |
| 06/24 | Kaagbaan – Normaly active together with the Aalsmeerbaan for the opposite movement type (landing/depatures) as the Polderbaan/Zwanenburgbaan.Only used for landings in 06 direction and for takeoffs in 18 direction. |
| 09/27 | Buitenveldertbaan – Not that often in use. Mainly if there are strong northwest winds. Mostly used for landings in 27 direction and for takeoffs in 09 direction. |
| 04/22 | Oostbaan – Normally only in use for the General Aviation planes. During periods with very strong winds or RWY closures it is also used by commercial traffic. Heavies like the Boeing 777 have been seen to land here! |
Kromme Spieringweg - 18R arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is at located by the roadside of “Kromme Spieringweg”. The easiest way to get here is by exiting “N232” at the roundabound into north-eastern direction into “Spaarnwouderweg”. Follow the road for about 200 meters, then turn right. To be honest, this spot is no exact location, rather the area around the runway head – depending on your favourite angle. By public transport: take bus 161 from Hoofddorp Station/Zwanenburg and exit at Boesingheliede. |
| WHAT | You can get all traffic on arrival into Runway 18R. |
| TIME | From late midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities. The closest are at spot 3. No ladder needed! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300 mm |
Schipholweg - 18R arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is at the parallel road to the Schipholweg in a village called Boesingheliede. You can park your car at the side of the road. Walk up to the cyclepath along the road until you have a clear view of the planes. By public transport: take bus 161 from Hoofddorp Station/Zwanenburg and exit at Boesingheliede. |
| WHAT | You can get all traffic on arrival into Runway 18R. |
| TIME | From sunrise till midday. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities. The closest are at spot 3. No ladder needed! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300 mm |
Spotterplaats Polderbaan - 18R arrivals, 36L departures
| WHERE | This spot is Amsterdam’s most famous location along the Polderbaan (18R/36L). It’s an official spotting location with a big car park and sometimes foodtrucks. Depending on your favourite angle and moment (when taking the picture) you might walk up the bycyclepath into northern direction. By public transport: take bus 300 from Haarlem Station/Schipol Airport and exit at Vijfhuizen, Expo Haarlemmermeer. But you still have to walk for 50 minutes! |
| WHAT | This spot is good for arrivals on runway 18R and departures on runway 36L. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are toilets, rubish bins and in the summer foodstores. No ladder needed! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-250 mm |
Ijweg - 18R arrivals, 36L departures
| WHERE | This spot is at the roundabout at the end of the Ijweg. But it’s not allowed to park here. The police will visit this spot regularly and will get a fine for parking illegally. Park like Spot 1 in the parallel road of the Schipholweg and walk down here! By public transport: take bus 161 from Hoofddorp Station/Zwanenburg and exit at Boesingheliede. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for depatures on runway 36L and 18R aircraft that reverse here. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~13:00. |
| MISC. | There is nothing. No ladder needed!
To remind you: Parking is prohibited here! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 40-200 mm |
Vijhuizerweg - 36L departures
| WHERE | Follow the Vijfhuizerweg to the end and park your car at the side of the road before the roundabout. By public transport: take bus 300 from Haarlem Station/Schipol Airport and exit at Vijfhuizen, Expo Haarlemmermeer. But you still have to walk for 50 minutes! |
| WHAT | This spot is good for aircraft lining up for a 36L departure. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from 15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is some shadow on the other side of the road. Bring the stuff with you! No ladder needed! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200 mm |
Taxiway V Afternoon
| WHERE | The spot is along the perimeter fence parallel to taxiway. Park your car at the marked parking spot and walk back to the spot. By public transport: take bus 145 from Hoofddorp/Lelylaan or 161 Hoofddorp/Zwanenburg and exit at Vijfhuizerweg. Cross the bridge and you are at the fence. |
| WHAT | You can take pictures of all planes coming or going to the Polderbaan. There is a fence at this location, so you need a ladder here! 3-steps are sufficient for most people. The further you stand to the east, the closer you will be to the airplanes. The closest you can get is a crashgate (also marked on the map), where you can even shoot without a ladder. But you are extremely close here and particularly widebody aircraft will be heavily distorted. |
| TIME | Good spot in the summer from ~13:00 until evening. |
| MISC. | There are a few trees for some shade. Ladder needed here. 4-5 steps are great! |
| FOCAL LENGTH |
18 – 200 mm |
Taxiway V Morning
| WHERE | Park your car at the Hoodweg at the marked spot and walk up the farmtrack. You can also walk up the farmtrack a bit closer to the taxiway, but always mind other spotters behind you, who might prefer the marked track. By public transport: take bus 145 from Hoofddorp/Lelylaan or 161 Hoofddorp/Zwanenburg and exit at Vijfhuizerweg. Cross the bridge and the taxiway tunnel to reach the spot. |
| WHAT | This place is good for all planes taxiing to and from the Polderbaan. You can also shoot heavies departing out of RWY 36C in the evening from this location. Though they are a bit further away, heavies should be perfectly fine. |
| TIME | For the taxiway V, light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~10:00. For 36C Departures, light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing else than the spot. No ladder needed! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for a B772 and 150mm for a B738. |
Hoofdweg - 18C arrivals, 18L taxiing
| WHERE | Use the parking location for the morning side and walk to the spot from there. You can use the small hill leading up to the plastic wall of the highways as an elevation point. Do not go up to the ultimate top, as police do not like you standing so close to the highway.
You can either stand in the west or the east of the channel – switching position might be easier from the Northern side as the car can be parked just at the hills edge down there. Therefore the taxiway is clearer visible from the Southern side… By public transport: take bus 145 from Hoofddorp/Lelylaan or 161 Hoofddorp/Zwanenburg and exit at Vijfhuizerweg. Cross the bridge, walk under the taxiway and autobahn tunnel to reach the spot. Its pretty far away from the bus stop! |
| WHAT | This location is ideal for arrivals on RWY 18C in the evening. Maybe you’ll get taxiing aircraft to runway 18L before departure as well. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing else here. No ladder needed, go up the hill! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for a B744 and 180mm for a B738 |
South of channel:
North of channel:
Tweeduizend El - 18C arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is directly at the side of the Tweeduziend El Street on the side of of a farm track as marked on the map. Park your car on the paved area. By public transport: take bus 145 from Hoofddorp/Lelylaan or 161 Hoofddorp/Zwanenburg and exit at Vijfhuizerweg. Cross the bridge, walk under the taxiway and autobahn tunnel and take the next main road right. Its pretty far away from the bus stop! |
| WHAT | From this spot you can catch all 18C arrivals in the morning hours. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from sunrise till ~13:00 |
| MISC. | There is nothing at this spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55-200 mm |
Rijnlanderweg - 18C departures
| WHERE | The Rijnlanderweg has some concrete slabs alongside the road. Find the slab where the aircraft are above the fence. Spotting here is a bit tricky due to the fence/poles in addition to the point that one never know where an aircraft will exactly rotate. Sometimes we pokered for example with heavies which were still behind the fence where we stood in the end… |
| WHAT | Departures 18C (rare event, almost only, when 06 is closed). High 36C might be okay as well. |
| TIME | From late midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Everything you need can be found inside the nearby cities. Ladder might be useful.
Heat haze and the poles might be problems! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-400mm. |
Angle and position of aircraft (regarding behind/over fence) may vary depending on where exactly you stand as you can choose from all the way down here:
Farmerpath - 36C arrivals, 18C rotations
| WHERE | This spot is located at the end of a farmers track next to a little river and pond. The easiest (and to be honest onliest) way to reach the spot is from the main street Rijnlanderweg, which runs west of the A5. The gate at the front of the street (right after you left “Rijnlanderweg”) might be closed, so you can’t enter the path, but after 5 visits we hadn’t had this yet.
Spotting here is a bit tricky due to the poles. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 36C and late rotations on runway 18C. |
| TIME | From late midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Everything needed can be found inside the nearby shops or gas stations. No ladder needed, enough parking posibilities. Heat haze might be a problem in summer months, because the highway is running between the spot and the runway.
It sounds strange, but heavy traffic jam can be sh*tty, because the cars will probably produce a lot of heat! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-350mm |
Advertisement Board - 36C arrivals, 18C late rotations, Taxiway Q
| WHERE | This spot is no exact location, rather the are along the “Rijkerstreek”, because everybody has another favourite angle. Example shots were taken from the marked spot on the map, between the triangular advertising board and the bus stop. The easiest way to reach thjis spot is by parking your car inside the “Pelikanweg” and walk here by foot or by using the bus stop, which is located 20 meters away from the used position.
Spotting here is a bit tricky due to the poles. To avoid this, you can go a bit to the south, so the planes are higher and above the poles. Of course, the angle won’t be that good anymore then. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 36C and late rotations on runway 18C. From here you can also see aircraft using Taxiway Q, but gears are cut off from here, that’s why mostly “partshoots” or “moodshots” are better than total-aircraft pictures. |
| TIME | From sunrise till late midday. |
| MISC. | Everything needed can be found inside the nearby shops or the terminal facilities. No ladder needed, parking posibilities limited. The easiest spots to park your car at are the parking bays near spot #9 (west of this spot). Heat haze is a problem in summer months, because the highway is running between the spot and the runway.
It sounds strange, but heavy traffic jam can be sh*tty, because your view might be disturbed and the cars will probably produce a lot of heat! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm |
Taxiway Q
| WHERE | If you follow the Pelikaanweg you will see the Taxiway Q. Parking is rather difficult. There are some carparks, but it’s only allowed to park here for 15 or 30 minutes. It is advised to park at the designated carparks near the main terminals instead. It is a 15 minute walk from terminal 1. By public transport: take a bus to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol, Uiverweg. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for all aircraft taxiing on the Taxiway Q. Stairs are helpful as the grass is sometimes too high. |
| TIME | Light conditions are perfect from ~13:00 till late evening |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 10-100 mm |
Observation Deck - ramp C, D and E gates
| WHERE | You can reach the Panorama Terrace from the ground floor by taking the stairs, escalator or elevator at Café Rembrandt. On the next floor (in Departure Hall 1) you then take the stairs or escalator at desk row 1 to the second floor, where a footbridge leads you to the Panorama Terrace. There are no disturbing security checks, glass walls, fences etc. and the entrance is free of charge too! Monitors next to the entrance are displaying all arrivals and departures. |
| WHAT | Photography is only possible between C and D gates and between D and E gates. In the summer months there is a lot of heat haze and the APU’s of the aircraft can cause distortions too. |
| TIME | You can visit the terrace for the whole day. |
| MISC. | Restrooms, supermarket and restaurants are inside the Terminal. Enough benches are on the terrace as well as a KLM Fokker 100 PH-OFE on display. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-400 mm (depends on what you are photographing) |
Toekanweg - Cargo apron, 06 touchdown
| WHERE | This spot is at the end of the Toekanweg. Parking is not allowed here. At the weekend it shouldn’t be a problem if you only do a really short stop here to take your pictures. By public transport: take a bus to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol, Valkweg. |
| WHAT | Here you can photograph cargo aircraft that park on the cargo apron and you have a limited view on runway 06 for about 2-3 shots at the touchdown zone. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from 14:00 for the apron and 18:00 on the runway till sunset. |
| MISC. | You have nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55-300 mm |
Rijkerstreek - 06 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located along the Rijkerstreek, near the airports P30 staff car park. Parking is not allowed at the McDonald’s Hoofddorp, so you have to park somewhere along the road ‘Hoeksteen’ (15 min walk). By public transport: take a bus to/from the airport and exit at P30 Parking. |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of aircraft arriving runway 06 in the evening. |
| TIME | Light conditions are perfect from 17:00 till sunset. Summertime spot only |
| MISC. | Toilets and food at the McDonald’s in Hoofddorp (5min walk). The Rijkerstreek can be a bit busy during peak-hours. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200 mm (TAP = 116mm, ABC = 62mm) |
Field - 06 arrivals
| WHERE | By car: The onliest way to reach this spot is from “Aalsmeerderweg”. At the end of this (deadend-)road you’ll find a turning pad. Exit the road/path left of the white house, which can be seen on the overview shot below. Drive this road till the marked parking spot.
By public transport: Exit the bus line 187 or 198 at the marked bus stop and walk down the “Aalsmeerderweg” till the barrier of “N196”. Then turn left and after ~75 meter use the bridge on your left to cross the highway. Then walk to the mentioned turning pad and go into (and afterwards down) the path left of the white hose, shown in the example shot. +++ Update June 2018: At the moment there are ongoing construction works, that’s why some descriptions might be old already and non-actual! Maybe you won’t be able to reach the spot #17 northwest of the parking for this spot. That’s why we added the one southwest of the parking. This spot is located on a field, which wasn’t under construction works like the other next to #17. If you have any update about changes, please don’t hesitate to contact us! +++ |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of aircraft arriving runway 06. There is some obstruction of lampposts of the ‘Kruisweg’, but thats only a problem in the afternoon. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~15:00. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-100mm for A340/777. 120-150mm for 757/A320/737. |
Meadow - 06 arrivals and touchdown
| WHERE | This spot is located at the corner of the Beechavenue. Parking is changing due to construction works all around the spot and is only possible at the “Schiphol-Rijk” area (Boeing Avenue). By public transport: take a bus to/from the airport and exit at Rozenburg, “Kruisweg 365”. From there you have to walk ~5 minutes to spot. |
| WHAT | This place is good for aircraft arriving on runway 06 in the morning in the air on inbound. Touchdown shots are also possible here as seen in the examples below. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from 07:00 till ~15:30. |
| MISC. | There are some stones next to the road to sit on. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for a B772 and 150mm for a B738. |
Aalsmeerderweg - 06 arrivals, 24 departures
| WHERE | This spot is located at the end of the Aalsmeerderweg. Here are stairs required to shoot over the fence. You can park your car next to the entrance of a former nursery. Furthermore its possible at the “Schiphol-Rijk” area (Boeing Avenue). By public transport: take a bus to/from the airport and exit at Rozenburg, Aalsmeerderweg. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for 06 arrivals in the morning with some background. This spot is only good during the morning hours due to heat haze in the late morning. You can also shoot 24 Departures here during the day and heat haze does not become a problem with them as they are already high in the air. Even some smaller aircraft are still not too high here (as seen below), but they might be a bit too far away. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from sunrise till ~15:00 |
| MISC. | There are some rubbish bins along the fence. Ladder might be useful depending on the workfence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-400 mm |
Reykjavikweg - 18L heavy departures, 36R arrivals
| WHERE | By public transport: take bus 181 to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol-ZO, Anchoragelaan. |
| WHAT | There you can take pictures of heavy loaded planes taking of 18L or arrivals on runway 36R. You can vary your location here based on your preferences. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Around 90mm for a B744 and ~160mm for a B738. |
![](/images/AMS-Spot20-.jpg")
![](/images/AMS-Spot20b.jpg")
Aalsmeerderdijk - 36R arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located on “Aalsmeerderdijk”. Cpoming from “N201”, follow the signs for “Schiphol-Oost” and exit the highway befor entering the tunnel. Take the first exit at the roundabout and immediately go left. Once up the “Aalsmeerderdijk”, go right and drive till the end, but your exact position depends on yourfavourite angle. By public transport: Take bus 187 to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol-Rijk, Capronilaan. |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of aircraft arriving runway 36R. Another benefit of this spot are the many ships and pleasure yacht passing though the canal (great if you are a ship spotter as well). Walk along the canal to vary the photoangles. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from late midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-100mm for A340/777. 120-150mm for 757/A320/737. |
Breguetlaan - 36R arrivals
| WHERE | Take the Fokkerweg to get here and exit at the Breguetlaan. Go straight around the right corner and you are there. You can park here and stay next to your car. By public transport: take bus 187 to/from the airport and exit at Oude Meer, Fokker Logistics Park. |
| WHAT | You can shoot the arrivals on RWY 36R here. You can vary your location here along the waterway. But beware that you will only see the planes early when standing in the northwestern corner. In the northeastern corner you have to listen, so that you don’t miss any arrivals. But a better angle and more shots with a little bit background might make up for that. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~13:00 |
| MISC. | There are some rubbish bins along the fence |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70mm for a B772 and 120mm for an A320. |
![](/images/AMS-Spot22a.jpg")
Schiphol Oost - GA and Martinair ramp (night shots), 09 departures
| WHERE | This spot is located in the parking area next to the GAT. The position can be reached by car easily by using highway A9 and exit at exit Nr. 6 “Aalsmeer”. Then follow the N232/231 (depends on the direction you’re coming from) and turn onto “Schipholdijk”. After around 250m turn right into Poortstraat and park your car nearby. Then choose your favourite positoin, depends on the plane/angle you want to have. By public transport: take bus 186,193,199 to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol Oost, Stationsplein.+++SEP 2019: Ongoing constrcution works partly don’t allow you to get to the last fence before the apron – specially during the day Securitas sends you away very quickly+++ |
| WHAT | You can take pictures of planes parking on the General Aviation apron or the Martinair Cargo Maintenance. Stairs are required here. You can also take nightshots here on limited angles.Apart from that all aircraft that depart from runway 09, but some planes are really high! |
| TIME | Light conditions are good all day round, though more planes have good light in the morning hours. For departures between around 9am and 6pm. |
| MISC. | There are some rubbish bins. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 15 – 500 mm |
Loevesteinse Randweg - 27 arrivals, 22 arrivals
| WHERE | For this spot park your car at the McDonald’s north of the Buidenveldertbaan (marked on the map) or the parking bays near Schiphool Oost. Another option is to park in the “Thermiekstraat”, but there you are limited to 90 minutes of parking and fines are high if you exceed that limit. Walk up the “Loevesteinse Randweg” until you’re near the General Aviation buildings and have a free view to the approachpath. By public transport: Take bus 186,193,199 to/from the airport and exit at “Schiphol Oost, Canadaweg”. |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of planes on arrival to 27. You can vary your location based on your preference regarding distance and angle. Apart from this you can see the rare 22 arrivals used by planes like Dakota DC-3 or similar. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from late morning till early evening. |
| MISC. | Food and restrooms can be found in the nearby Mc Donald’s. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for a B773 and 200mm for an A320. |
Nieuwemeerdijk - 22,27 and 24 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located on ‘Nieuwemeerdijk’. It is close to the motorway A9 exit 6. You can park on both sides of the road, but the view is a bit limited, you cannot see the runway and the aircraft appear from behind the forest. |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of aircraft arriving on runway 27 as well as on runway 22, when the wind is strong enough and even heavies arriving on 24 – but last ones with a bad angle. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good almost all day. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here and heat haze can be a problem here on hot days – especially for runway 22 arrivals (27 arrivals aren’t affected normally). |
| FOCAL LENGTH | RWY 27 arrivals: 90-110mm for 777/747. 170-190mm for 757/A320/737. RWY 22 arrivals: 260mm for B738 |
Arrivals on runway 27:
Arrivals on runway 22:
Spotterplaats Buitenveldertbaan - 27 arrivals, 09 heavy departures
| WHERE | This is an official viewing area and it is directly at the carpark of the McDonald’s at the side of the Loevesteinse Randweg. You can park here for free. By public transport: there ist a huge bus station called Knooppunt Schiphol Noord with many different lines. |
| WHAT | Here you can take pictures of aircraft arriving runway 27 in the early morning and late evening. Heavy departures using runway 09 are also possible. |
| TIME | Light conditions are perfect from sunrise till 08:00 and 19:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | Toilets and food at the McDonald’s and also rubbish bins outside at the spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200 mm |
Parking P5/P41, 18L departures/line up
| WHERE | Follow sings towards P5 (staff only). Park your car on the left side of the road and walk along the bicyclepath towards the runway. By public transport: take bus to/from the airport and exit at Schiphol, Elzenhof/P5 |
| WHAT | Almost all aircraft that depart from runway 18L will lineup here. There are some exceptions: some narrow-body aircraft tend to line-up “early”. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from 07:00 till ~12:30. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 90-110mm for 777/747. 170-190mm for 757/A320/737. |
Parking P3 - 09/27 movements
| WHERE | This spot is located on top of the parking garage P3 (Long stay parking). It is an official spotters area. The best way to reach this spot is to use public transport: From Schiphol plaza, take the bus to parking P3/P40. |
| WHAT | All runway 09/27 activities as well as some apron movements. |
| TIME | Light conditions are perfect from sunrise till 08:00 and 19:00 till sunset. Apron movements can be shot well at night. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 300-400mm. |
EXAMPLE PICTURES TO BE ADDED SOON!
Dijk - 18L heavy departures
| WHERE | This spot is located on the Aalsmeerdijk as well, but north of spot #22. The Dijk is very easy to reach from the main street Fokkerweg a few meters in the west and you can park your car almost everywhere along the roadside. Then just search your favourite location, which depends whether you wanna shoot heavies or small aircraft and their destination => rotation point is various… |
| WHAT | Runway 18L departures and rather heavies or at leats long distance departures. |
| TIME | From sunrise till midday. |
| MISC. | Parking is easy around here, but therefore the view is sometimes heavily disturbed by buildings/poles. Gas station very close. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-350mm |
Northern end – clear view from the gap behind the pendant:
Southern end:
109 Comments
Hey guys
Are people still doing plane spotting at Schiphol. I have seen many times people clicking pictures in the past while we would line up for take off. What is the situation now because of Corona. Ideally, I would like to drive up North from Eindhoven park my car and click pictures.
Hello,
I’ve got a 7 hour layover in Schiphol in a few weeks, and would like to checkout Taxiway Quebec. How long is the walk from the terminal and how do I get there on foot? I’m in Schiphol between 13;00 and 17;00. I would like to catch as many heavies as possible, is staying at the terrace a better choice?
Hi, around 1,5 km. You can walk along the roads. Thats no big deal. There are sidewalks as well at some parts. Did not test it myself.
But! Keep in mind not many heavies pass by at this location. Mainley the KLM cityhopper aircraft and Cargo.
For KLM heavies the terracce might be the better option.
-Julian
Thanks, Julian. I will give the location a try for the cargo and cityhopper aircraft, then for sunset head back to the terrace. Thank you for the advice.
Indeel 20 min walk, juist follow the sidewalks, walkend it myself Some weeks ago,
It is one of the best places to spot Taxiing Cargo planes
don,t forget to wave back to the KLM pilots
Hi, many people ask about renting bikes – in 2018 I stayed at Park Inn Radisson and they had bikes available for 15 Euros a day – it took around 45 minutes to cycle from there to the Polderbaan – it’s a long way and on a hard seat…but worth it, and cycle paths all the way – I think the Corendon Hotel also has bikes for guests – taxiway Q is an easy 15 min walk on footpaths from the terminal
Hi,
Not sure of procedures, please excuse if incorrect.
For some time now, I have been thinking about an overnight at Schiphol from Bristol. We have KLM and Easy Jet.
Are you able to stay within the Airport, as long as you like, and are they suitable places to spot. Many, many years ago I stayed at an Ibis which was within the airport or very close -Is that still there. Any help appreciated
Parking Spot #5 was fenced off on the weekend of 21 September 2019. The small parking area to the south was available.
[…] Mit seinen insgesamt 6 Start-/Landebahnen ist Amsterdam der größte Flughafen der Niederlande und auch international einer der Größten.Was ihn besonders für Spotter interessant macht sind zum einen die zahlreichen Möglichkeiten dort zu fotografieren, als auch eine erfreulich große Anzahl an „zaunfreien“ Spots (an vielen Stellen hat man nur einen Wassergraben zwischen „Zivil-“ und Flughafenbereich)!An der Polderbaan (18L/36L) verläuft an der westlichen Seite über die gesamte Länge ein Fuß-/Radweg an dem sich quasi jede Position realisieren lässt.Leider gibt es auch einen Nachteil: In Amsterdam sind je nach Traffic entweder zwei Bahnen für den Inbound und eine für den Outbound geöffnet oder eben Zwei für Out- und eine für den Inbound. Dies führt zu einem gewissen „Bahnenlotto“, was stressig sein kann, wenn man sich bestimmte Maschinen ausgewählt hat, die man erwischen möchte! Hier ist gute Planung wichtig, denn die einzelnen Bahnen/Spots sind z.T. sehr weit entfernt und diese Entfernungen nur mit dem Auto halbwegs zeitnah zu überbrücken!Auch, wenn es ein Stück weg ist, versuche ich einmal im Jahr zu diesem aus Spottersicht wirklich tollen Flughafen zu fahren um dort einen Tag im Zeichen von Kerosin und „Stahlvögeln“ zu verbringen!Hier gibt es einen sehr guten und ausführlichen Spotterguide (auf englisch!) zu Amsterdam und auf der Seite selbst unzählige weitere Spotterguides weltweit: https://www.spotterguide.net/planespotting/europe/netherlands/amsterdam-ams-eham-2/ […]
I agree with Carsten. It takes at least 10 minutes to transition between photography locations and the runway allocation takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, AMS is one of the best locations in Europe for photos.
[…] been standing next to the runway of the airport Schiphol for as long as I can remember. My grandmother used to take me to the airport so I could watch […]
Hi! Spotter from Mexico, what point is the closest i can get? 3?? Thanks guys!
Hi guys,
I think I have some very important news. I’m at Ijweg apot at the moment, and there are some giant hogweed plants around. I also saw them by the car park on the opposite side of Polderbaan, and on the spot #22. Those are very dangerous plants, you can get severe skinburns if you’ll touch them. I think it’s a thing worth mentioning. Be careful!
Greeting from Polderbaan!:)
Hi all,
quick info concerning Spot #24, in case public transport is used.
Named bus stop “Schiphol Oost, Bussluis” does not exist any longer. Just continue to “Canadaweg” and walk back (about 5min).
From “Canadaweg” you can also reach the GAT area and spot #23. All noticed May 2019.
Best Regards
Andreas
Hi Andreas,
Tnx! We will change that.
Gr
Bas
This guide helped me a lot during my stay in AMS. I have a few comments about some spotting points:
Nr 20 and coming with a car. All along Reykjavikweg it seems to be forbidden to park the car, even on the small road on the right after the employee parking. First day was ok but on the second day a police officer came and told me in a friendly way that parking at the small road is forbidden and that they usually send other cars away. I’ve been driving around the cargo area but it seems impossible to find a parking space. I saw one outside restaurant Flamingo that there is a place where you can park and use a parking disc for 2 hours and on the side to the checkpoint, but I don’t know how restricitve it is with only use it for visit the companys in the building. And even find a parking spot along the bus route seems to be hard to find.
Nr 4. It’s a really long way from Schipolweg to the spot, I don’t know really where to park at Schipolweg and I would recommend other spotters to have a bike or other things to ride on.
Nr 22. I was there on the third day in the morning to do some spotting. Me and two other spotters stood on the side of the house belonging to the logistics company Bolloré (The wall where it’s shadow in the morning) when an employee came out to have a smoke and told us to move a few meters to the bicycle stand because the owner told him. The owner says that people throw garbage on the ground and that it looks dirty. At least the people including me who stood there didn’t do anything, so I don’t know if it’s just that day that the owner was in a bad mood..
Otherwise, I had a great time in AMS and looking forward to come back again!
I can confirm the parking problem at spot 20, during Easter time. First day ok, second day gently sent away by police, I was standing by the gate on the bridge at the spot. There was like 10 cars, we were all sent away. There is literally no parking place around. The only place I thought would be possible , is on the other side of the motorway. Closer to the canal, there were more parking places and you can walk on the sidewalk under the motorway and approach the spot 20 from south. Since I carry a bike in my car in AMS, that transfer takes minutes (that also solves the spot 4 problem, which is 15 minutes walk otherwise). Even without bike I think it is the closest parking spot. BUT, I didn’t try that yet.
Hi Michael!
That sounds good, I will go there and have a look next time I’m going to AMS.
Hi Michael,
I heard from other spotters to it is not allowed to park at spot #20 anymore. I recommend spot #21 instead.
grtz
Bas
Hi guys,
Are there any parking restrictions on Schipholweg (parking spot#2 on map)? I wouldn’t like to block someone’s private parking space. For how long you can leave the car there?
thanks
As long as you park at the designated parking area’s alongside the road, it is ok… Don’t park in front of gates, on the road or the grass and you will be fine 😉
Hi there!
I’m a spotter from Madrid Barajas (Spain), and during the summer i’m gonna be visiting the Netherlands. The last day of my trip I was thinking of doing some spotting in Schipol, as my flight back departs at 20:00.
I’m thinking on spotting around the Polderbaan, as it’s the most iconic place. Around the day, spots 4,3 and 5 would de great.
What do you guys reccomend me in order to move around there and later on going to the terminal? It would be great if there were some bike rentals at the airport but I have found none. Let me know if you know some of them. Another option is using Uber/Taxi, but it’s not my fav choice.
Let me know some advice/hints.
Regards
David
Without a car, spots 3, 4 and 5 are not easy reachable. As far as I know there are no bike rentals near the airport. Best way is to get an uber or taxi indeed i think, or you have to take public transport (as described above).
Are there any bike rental near the airport?
I am going to AMS in a couple of weeks from now (19th-21st March) and I’m considering renting a bicycle as I don’t want the hassle of a car. I’d like to know what bike rental shops, if any, are near the airport or in Badhoevedorp, where I am staying. Thanks.
*Had originally posted this as a reply to someone else, but it may be better on its own – sorry!
Has anyone tried getting to the location(s) on a bicycle? I’ll be staying at a hotel roughly 20 km from the airport. Being a both bicycle and photo enthusiast, I am wondering whether it’s possible to combine the both activities there? Are there bicycle roads around the spots and is it safe to go around there on a (rental) bicycle?
Hi, Amsterdam is one of the most bike friendly cities on this planet and as far as I can remember there are bicycle roads everywhere. So definitely YES, you can go there around with a bike!
Have fun, Julian
Are there any bike rental facilities near the airport?
Hi all,
have just visited AMS; unfortunately ended up in rainy weather.
Thank you for adding details about public transport here.
For spot #12 (06 morning arrivals), it could be useful to say that the name of the bus stop is “Kruisweg 365”; there are two stations named Kruisweg; the other might me more suitable to reach spots #19 and #21. From bus stop “Kruisweg” its a short 5min walk to reach spot #2.
Regards
Andreas
Quote:
its a short 5min walk to reach spot #2
Sorry, typing error, I meant spot #12 of course.
Thanks Andreas, added to guide!
-Severin
Hello again at Spotterguide.net, AMS is another great guide – as always. I am planning for an early October trip to AMS for spotting. I have only spotted from inside the terminal during transfer.
There are ample hints about not spotting during winter at the N/S runways like Polderbaan… How about early October? Is that already too late for spotting/photography due to the sun?
Also, how about night photography at AMS – both long-exposure (if wind obviously is not blowing as much as it generally does) as well as panning shots? Which spots would the AMS spotter community recommend?
Thanks again for these great guides worldwide and for running this page – it’s such a valuable resource to the spotting community!
Thanks, Nils
Hi,
I will visiting the Airport on Friday, the 6th April. I will get good photos of the following three aircrafts: Surinam Airlines A340, Garuda B777 and Aeromexico B787. Which position should I use (i don`t have a car and a ladder)?
If somebody have a tipp for me or come with me, I would be verry happy.
Regards
Till
Hi guys,
I am a German spotter and planning to visit Schiphol on Saturday (24/2/18). I visited Schiphol twice and wasn’t able to watch the famous Polderbaan touchdowns yet. Right now it seems like the touchdowns are on 36C. Where do I find the best spot to catch some touchdowns at 36C and how frequent or realistic are arrivals on the Polderbaan until this date?
Thanks in advance,
Vincent
Hi Vincent!
We can’t give you any information about the planned runway usage, but Polderbaan is used only for 18R arrivals and 36L dpeartures, so just if the wind is coming from the north you can expect arrivals there. At the moment it looks like the wind will come hardly from the east, so you might have luck and get some crosswind landings on the polder.
Apart from this we don’t know more spots than we show you here in the guide, that’s why we don’t know a spot for 36C touchdown-shots, but it’s almost impossible due to the highway!
You can use https://www.lvnl.nl/omgeving/baangebruik to see the runway Usage!
Viele Gruesse und Erfolg in AMS 😉
Severin
Hi all,
I have a small question concerning the official spottersplace at the Polderbaan. In the description it is mentioned that the time is good from 15:00 till sunset during summer. How about the winter, like this week. Can you spot there then earlier or later than 15:00 without having backlit?
Cheers,
Yuri
Hi Yuri, to check the position of the sun I refer to this link where we explain two tools:
https://www.spotterguide.net/useful-tips/
But keep in mind that in the winter its better not to stay at the north/south runways.
-Julian
Both Spotterguide as a portal AND the description for AMS are amazing! Keep that going, congratulations!
On problem: the huge variety of runways seems a bit confusing to me as a “first-timer” in AMS, so I might need some expert’s advice: Which spots would you recommend for the upcoming weekend (24./25. Febr. – I’m in Amsterdam anyway with a car and wanted to go spotting, mainly on Saturday)? What are your experiences with the runway usage on winter weekends?
Many thanks in advance!
Thanks for your kind words. In winter I would never go to airports with a north/south runway direction. So for AMS I recommend to stay at the 06 arrivals or use the taxiway spot #5.
Its always up for what you are looking for but I you have no really target stay at the positions I told you above.
-Julian
Thanks Julian! Well, I had to go to Amsterdam anyway for this weekend, hence the idea of going for a bit of planespotting – it was not the main purpose of the trip but more like a “how to spend a couple of hours in AMS”. For a dedicated spottertrip, I would rather choose May-September.
Hi Spotters!!!
Im looking for a perfect spot for a perfect Touchdown or Lift (towards Camera, but not perpendicular) please suggest a spot (im ok with any location in NL).
Thanks
Harish van Almere
Hi Harish,
There are a few nice spots for such shots… Actually, you can almost reach every runway head if you want. The most famous:
Between spot 12 an 19: Example Photo
Hello Julian, Is there any chance to spot from inside the terminal? I have a transfer from terminal at which eurowings land to terminal where UA flies to the US (not sure which terminal that is), and was curious if there is any good spotting from inside terminals possible? I have a 2-3 hr layover and would like to get at least some nice shots if possible. Thanks so much, Nils
HI Nils, yes you can spot from inside the terminals, usually from every concourse you have access to.
-Julian
First, congratulations on an excellent site and I will endeavour to make contributions in the future. A question if I may. Spot 8 for photography in early morning in late September for arrivals. Any good or should I reconsider? The options appear limited if they are operating 24 for departures and 18R for arrivals (as 24 for departures isn’t much use!)
Hi Tim,
If 18C is in use for arrivals, you can considder spot 1, 2 or 6 too, as 18R will be the main runway in use most of the time. But spot 8 will be fine for early morning arrivals for runway 18C (the peak periods).
Runway 24 departures can be spot from spot 13, but you can have some troubles parking your car.
Bas
Bas,
Many thanks for the reply. Looking at spot 13, parking the car will be rather difficult!
Tim
Is the observation deck closed? Because the letters are dashed out.
Hi Pieterjan Lenssens!
There is only one entrance now at the departures.
Regards,
Severin (Spotterguides.net-Team)
The enterance is between departure terminal 1 and 2 🙂
Hi, tomorrow i.e. 25/06/17, I am at Schihpol for plane spotting. Coming from south Indian city Bengaluru. I think I choose a wrong day. I am coming in the morning from Den Bosch by train. Can you please suggest a suitable spot which is accessible by public transport. willing to spend the whole day. Hope to have a rainless window sometime during the day.
Regards
Rajamurthy
Hi Rajamurthy,
Good luck tomorrow! I hope you have a rain free day… In my reply to Mac (May 20th), I gave this reply. I think those are the best spots to reach by public transport:
The best option is possibly the Observation Deck (spot #10). That is the most convenient i think.
You can also try taking the train to station ‘Halfweg-Zwanenburg’. If you cross the N200 road, you can take bus 161 to Boesingheliede. But it’s still a long way towards spot #1. Spot #2/#3/#4 are not easly reached by public transport.
From Schiphol Plaza, spot #16/#17 (bus 191/193), #18 (bus 300), #19 (bus 300/310/365/370) and #24 (bus 181/190/197/199) are easy to reach by bus (subjected to change).
Spot #9: To walk from the terminal to spot #9 takes about 30-35 minutes. You can take public transport instead: take bus 181, 190, 197, 199 from Schiphol Plaza to Schiphol P30. Get out on Uiverweg (it’s only 4 or 5 stops). Then it is only a 5 minute walk to taxiway Q.
Bas
Hi, I will be arriving in Amsterdam on the 17th of June. As a plane spotter from Toronto I would like to meet up with someone/people to do some serious spotting. Thanks!
Hi Saleem,
I saw your post to late… How was your spotting trip?
Bas
Hello,
Can you advice me what płace will be easier to get in by public transport (from the airport or Amsterdam Centre or Amsterdam Sloderdijk).
I am disabled – I move on a wheelchair, so I will get there without car and and I am looking for any spotting place with a good view and traffic, but without a high fence, ladder, etc.
I think the most interesting is Polderbaan, but getting there by public transport and on a wheelchair would be very difficult for me, right?
I will be grateful for any recommendations!
Hi Mac,
Well the best option is possibly the Observation Deck (spot #10). That is the most convenient i think. You can also try taking the train to station ‘Halfweg-Zwanenburg’. If you cross the N200 road, you can take bus 161 to Boesingheliede. But it’s still a long way towards spot #1. Spot #2/#3/#4 are not easly reached by public transport.
From Schiphol Plaza, spot #16/#17 (bus 191/193), #18 (bus 300), #19 (bus 300/310/365/370) and #24 (bus 181/190/197/199) are easy to reach by bus (subjected to change).
Keep in mind the Kaagbaan will be out of operation untill may 28, see: https://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=17583&start=330
I hope it helps. Good luck and have a great time at AMS.
Bas
Thank you so much Bas!!!
Observation deck is already on my “must-see” list.
In addition to spots mentioned by you, I consider also spot #9 Taxiway Q.
What I have seen taxiway Q is 15 minutes “walk” on the wheelchair from the terminal, right? (and the best way is to leave terminal through train station?)
Do you think is it good idea to get there (Taxiway Q) on the wheelchair without any problems and difficulties?
To walk from the terminal to spot #9 takes about 30-35 minutes. Take public transport instead: to spot #9 take bus 181, 190, 197, 199 from Schiphol Plaza to Schiphol P30. Get out on Uiverweg (it’s only 4 or 5 stops). Then it is only a 5 minute “walk” to taxiway Q. Take note that sidewalks and bicycle paths are only limited available, cause it is an industrial area. But it is not the busiest area, so you should be fine if you need to use the roadways. Just be careful though.
Here is the route you can take: Route Schiphol Plaza -> Spot #9
Thank you Bas for all your tips!
Finally I decided to go to Panorama Terrace & Taxiway Q – It was a really great spotting! 🙂 Thanks!
Friendly request for those that go by car … is it possible to add the exact street + town adresses for the spots ? We had a bit of difficulty finding them in a car-gps because it needed the town first .. so like “Oude Meer – Breguetlaan” for #15 etc etc.
Other than that, great guide. It sure helps for a first time visit to this *huge* place.
Hi Philippe, its pretty easy to find the GPS Coordinates and the complete address. Just open a new map on google and click with the right mouse button on the target and select “whats here”.
Then all details you need are shown. Thats why we don´t add this to our guides.
-Julian
Hello,
I am going to AMS end of May for spotting. Would anyone help me better understand the parking rules in the Netherlands? I’m interested mostly in vising both spots marked within this text as “1” Polderbaan (most northern location). As I am a little bit disabled in moving and will have to rent a car onsite, I’d like to avoid penalties for wrong parking.
Is parking along the cyclepaths allowed? May it be every place of choice (as marked with a red arrow) or only a darker place (as marked with a blue arrow) – pls refer to the drawing: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0ZvpC-dFFoeTldMejRXWGQ2ams
Many thanks for spotterguide.net – really useful ;-).
Best regards
Piotr / Poland
Hi Piotr, the “blue” arrows are the area where you can park. But check signs before.
Hi,
I want to go to Spot 1 – Polderbaan – 18R arrivals. Is it ok to use either bus 186,193 or 199 to Schiphool Ost – then walk 5min to Schipholweg and from there walk to Polderbaan?
How long does it take to walk from Schipholweg to Polderbaan?
Tks
Alessandro
Hi Alessandro,
Spot 1 is rather difficult to get to.. I think the best way is to get from Schiphol Centrum to Hoofddorp Station by train (only one stop). Then take bus 161 to Zwanenburg (get out in Boesingheliede) and walk about 10 minutes to spot 1.
The total trip will take about 45 minutes.
I figured it out via Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WNoFvtFoikQ2
Good luck!
Bas
Oh My God!! It finally happens. What an experience, although that I had to walk almost 10 km in one day 🙂
I managed to go to Polderbaan (both sides), Line Up 36R (Spot 25), McDonalds (was lucky, that 27 was used for couple hours).
Thanks to all of you at http://www.spotterguide.net!!
Hi SpotterGuide,
I am from Singapore and will be heading to AMS for a couple days while I am visiting Amsterdam In May.
Would a Canon 7D, 17-40 and 100-400 be sufficient for most of the usual locations? (Polderbaan, Taxiway Q etc).
Or would you recommend that I carry an extra full frame body or a 24-70?
Thank you.
Hi William,
I can’t really advise you on what to bring, but a 100-400 will be enough for most spots. On most spots you can vary your distance between you and the aircraft a bit. But there are some spots where a smaller lens is recommended for the larger aircraft (for example: Spot #3, #9, #11, #15).
Have a nice trip to The Netherlands 😉
Grtz
Bas
I visit AMS on a yearly basis at least 3 to 6 times. I am from the Netherlands myself and travel by train. I have to warn everyone that the train system here can be rather horrible, the Schiphol Tunnel (the tunnel that leads to the underground train station) often is out of service for long periods of time. Which can ruin the rest of your day pretty much. So please do that this problem could occur. Also trains are often suddenly arriving on other tracks, late or completely cancelled all together.
For spotting on the observation deck, since the wind is a high factor in the Netherlands I strongly advice you to make sure you have the proper clothing for the fall and winter periods. Rain clothing may proof handy from fall to spring, just have it with you to be sure. For winter I strongly urge you to make sure to dress warm, not for ice or snow. But mostly because of the wind that can get your body temperature down real fast.
Currently the observation deck on one side is closed, this due to construction on that side. I asked today on Twitter how long they expect this to continue, but no date known nor a expected date. So please note that not the entire observation deck is available. I did hear from other spotters it may take to mid-2019 for it to be completed.
If you choose to stand on the observation deck, the best spot for spotters is on the far right side once you enter the observation deck. It’s the best spot for most of the photo’s you can shoot there. This is the side where the Fokker is on it’s pedestal, you should be able to see the tower on the same side if you look over your shoulder.
The Dutch spotters are friendly towards fellow spotters, so please don’t hesitate to ask questions. Most that stand there are actually there very often. They usually know what will land where and can tell you what you looking at. There are some with radio’s or other things to track aircraft.
This is a airport where you can also see rare aircraft such as a DC-3 in retro colors, Dutch Royal aircraft is stationed here as well, Dutch Police has their helicopters stationed here, Dutch Coast guard has a hangar and of course a lot of business jets on the other side of the airport (500mm or better should be able to take those shots). You can also look straight into a hangar that is used as maintenance and repaint hangar (big KLM letters on it), this also means you can see rare aircraft appear that are just there to get repaired or repainted.
Positive Sides:
– You are allowed to take photo’s as long as you don’t aim that thing at passengers (privacy) or inside the halls. Meaning photo’s of any aircraft or ground vehicle is no problem at all.
– Schiphol loves receiving spotters
– Emirates A380 flight to Dubai (arrives around noon, leaves usually around 15:00 hours. That’s around 3 PM for Americans)
– Often odd birds arriving on this airport, you may end up getting a good surprise from time to time!
– In the weekend there are less interesting flights, but still you can visit the observation deck without any problem!
Negative Sides:
– Weather can be nasty up on the observation deck, proper clothing highly advised
– Many spotters battle with the many poles around the airfield, a problem around for decades
– Viewing aircraft is not really a problem, but actually managing to take your photo is a different thing. You pretty much only have 2 clean spots to shoot at if you want aircraft in your photo without poles or any other objects in your photo.
Depending on point of view:
– So many KLM jets everywhere all day round
– Transavia and EasyJet are probably the number 2 and 3 if it comes to common jets.
– Observation deck is rather limited in space, in summer it could get crowded
– You can see the cargo terminal, but there is a fence and part of the roof you are standing on that obstructs your field of view. It could end up causing your photo’s to turn out bad.
– Traveling by train could end up in disaster, make sure you know what’s going on before you travel by train!
Do NOT:
– Smoking of any kind. Even if this is a duh moment, I see a lot of people still ignoring the signs. It’s strictly forbidden to smoke in this area due to the vapors of the fuel, light up your cigarette on the wrong moment and you could end up causing a disaster.
– Place your kids on the railing so they can see things better. It’s 3 stories high, when they fall it will be the end of that story and you will end up in jail for murder most likely.
– Place your camera or anything else on the railing without your hand actually on the item. If it falls and ends up hitting someone below, you probably end up in court for that. Wouldn’t be smart.
Just to be sure, Jarno is very ‘Dutch’ about the train system in the Netherlands, so unless you’re coming from Switzerland you’ll find that the train service runs quite smoothly, regularly, and quite often.
Friends, as one my bucket list is going to happen: travel to and do spotting at AMS!
I am interested to go to Spot No.3
Only a stupid question: is Uber the right choice to travel form Amsterdam Central to Spot 3?
Thanks!
Arryo
Jakarta Spotter
Hi Arryo,
When are you planning to come to AMS?
I don’t have any experience traveling with Uber, but a taxi will do the trick too (at least to get there), so why not Uber. The problem is to get back to the airport (I think).
Spot 3 is only good in the late afternoon/evening, so you might also check other spots.
Spot 12 & 13 are easy to reach by public transport and are great almost all day long.
Good luck and have a nice trip to AMS.
Bas
Hi Bas,
Thanks so much for your reply. I will be in AMS on 16-18 March 2017.
McDonalds and the Panorama were considered as well. The main reason I want to pick Spot 3, that I just wanted to do spotting as “official” as possible, at an “official publicly known” spots :).
Regards from Jakarta
Arryo
Well, aircraft spotting is a well-known hobby in the Netherlands, so even when there are only a few “official” spots, you can go to all the spots on the map without being bothered (if you don’t violate traffic regulations 😉 ). Especially in the weekends a lot of people visit spot 12/13 or others.
Bas.
Dear Bas,
Thanks so much!! Spot 12 and 13 are on the list now 🙂
If I’m not mistaken, you should be able to travel by bus from Amsterdam Centraal Station, I however do not know the specifics about it. You may want to contact Connexxion who is the bus owner for that area.
Hi Friends! I am writting from Argentina. Thanks for this guide. I am going to go to AMS in October (4 to 9) and I want to sppotter in my last day there (9th Oct) In the afternoon which is frecuently Rwy in use? I´ll take my airplane at 9PM is recomended go to spootter at the Panorama for the distance betwen rwys? Thanks your your advices!! Regards from Argentina!!
Dear Gulimero,
that depends on the wind which runway is in use. 36R and 06 is in use for landing and 36C+L is in use when the wind is coming from the north. Otherwise it will be other way round. From the observation Deck you can take many planes from different angles, which are parking in front of it or taxiing past. The light will be good in the afternoon for that.
Brgds,
Patrick
Are these focal lengts taken with a APS-C camera + a full frame lens. Or a full frame camera + full frame lens.
From our FAQ:
Focal Length: All our photographers using a DSLR with a APS-C sensor from Canon or Nikon (DX). The focal length in the guides is not similar to a full-frame DSLR!
-Julian
Hi,
I’m spending at least one day in AMS in the next three weeks. I’ve read that the observation deck is closed right now, does anyone have an idea when it opens again?
Anyway, I also want to spot at the Polderbaan (Spot 1&3) and on the Line-up for the Polderbaan, do you need a ladder for the Line-up? After or before, I’m not sure where to go first, I want to go to Taxiway Q and on the map I can see a carpark right next to the Pelikaanweg. Is this for employees working in the nearby cargo terminal (or whatever this is) or is this a public one? And if you can say me if I should spot at the Polderbaan or on Taxiway Q first, that would be really nice.
Thanks
Jan-Hendirk
Jan,
taxiway Q is obstructed by high fences, so you need a ladder there, whil the Polderbaan is free of fences. I prefer the Polderbaan therefore.
The observationdesk is not closed, only the northernmost part of it, but it will re-open later this year. Most parts are still open!
Hello,
I am from Belgium and would like to take the train to Schiphol and spot on the panorama terrace. There are 2 types of planes I would really like to spot then: the 747 from KLM and an A380. Is this possible from the panorama terrace. And how about the ongoing construction works? WIll the terrace re-open in full or will it be smaller?
the terrace is still under construction but will re-open later this year. It will be a bit limited,but not that much. KLM 747 are good visible from the terrace, but the Emirates A380 is not!
However,if runway 18L or 24 are in use for departures, all heavies are good visible with 200mm, while taking off or rolling towards the runway! In midsummer, you have to care for heathaze though.
Good friends, I wonder what tracks or spotter area is better to take the pictures and I’ll go a few days to nerderland, morning and afternoon and if it’s good April ,, thank you very much
Goeiedag beste redactie,
Welke spottingspunten AMS kan je het best bereiken via openbaarvervoer meerbepaald de autobus.
Groeten,
Dirk
Hi,
coming to schipol tomorrow Saturday for 3 days and was wondering if there was any airside tours to try and get the biz jet area of the airport and is the citizen m hotel any good for spotting.
cheers john.
Good evening
I wanted to ask you if there’s a bus station near Polderbaan, or maybe a bus service closest to the 18R/36L runway, i don’t have a car or either a driver’s licence, I am from France and I plan to come this week end (Octobrer 9th to 12th) to Amsterdam. My first time spotting there
Regards
Thanks
Hi,
I am sorry to tell you but the Polderbaan is not the best place to be reached by public transport. Maybe there is a bus stop in Boesingheliede to reach spot #1 for the RWY18 arrivals. The other locations are very far away from any town. The Aalsmeerbaan and Kaagbaan are better to be reach by bus so we recommend this locations for you as well as the terrace.
Regards
Julian
Hello
Thank you Julian for the infos, i’ll follow your advice (y)
Regards
what is a good spotting area for runway 24 takeoffs?
Spot 13 is your place to be. Alternative is here 52.287243, 4.749112 where you don´t need a ladder.
hello, hope your well
i was wandering how i would get from one spot for spotting to another if i was staying at the ibis hotel. Is there a free shuttle bus? and if so what are the routes ?
much appreciate your help
regards
Yazn
Hi Yazn!
We’re doing good, thanks and you? As you stay in the northeast of Schiphol, Spot #17 and Spot #18 would be in easy walking distance. If you want to travel to different locations you must use public transport or taxi. There is a free shuttle bus from you IBIS hotel to Schiphol Airport between 5am to 1am, enabling you to get easy access to the observation deck inside the terminal building.
Travelling to Polderbaan and Kaagbaan by PT is rather difficult and takes you about 40mins of walking. Spot 12 and 13 can also be easily reached by PT which will bring you there in about 30 mins.
Hope that was helpful, Yazn.
Have a great day
Marlin
Martin! thank you for the help ! much appreciated!!!
You’re welcome anytime, Yazn! Enjoy your time there!
Marlin
Hello Julian,
I am flying from FCO-DUS at the end of September with a four hour layover at AMS. Will it be possible to go to the observation deck during this time? I am assuming I will have to go thru passport control after I land and before I take off? Any help you can give me would be great. Thanks.
Brian.
Hi Brian,
the observation deck at Amsterdam is a public area, thus you are required to leave the security area through passport control and check-in again afterwards. If you don’t want to do that you can also take some pictures through the terminal windows, but some of them are tinted and covered by sun shields, depending on where you depart.
Hope that was helpful and have a great trip anyway!
Marlin
Hi, how to get to points 8 and18 using public transport from airport location? We are focus on a380
Hi, I would use the free hotel shuttle bus to both spots. For 8 take the one to the Dorint Hotel, for 18 to the Ibis Hotel. From there you can walk to each spot. But keep in mind that there are not many A380 movements at AMS! There are only Emirates and China Southern using this type.
Regards
Julian
Thanks, your info are much better than all airport & transport info points 🙂
And one more – how to get to spot number 2 from the airport? Public transport, shuttle bus…
Sorry but I have no idea about that one. May you just have a look at google maps to find a bus stop next to it.
Hello.
I will be visiting Amsterdam in early October.
I want to use the Panoramic terrace for some spotting.
My flight leaves very late in the evening from AMS to YYZ on KLM.
After I check in, can I go to the terrace?
If yes, how do I get there?
Thanks
Hi, please read the description for Spot #10 where you find all the answers for you questions.
Hello Chinaphong. If you don’t min living in private homes instead of in Hotels, I can recommend airbnb.com where you can search for lodging around Schiphol. A friend and I are going spotting in May and found a room close by to half of what we would have to pay in a hotel.
Julian, do you know if the observation deck is still under construction and if it will be open when we get there in mid May?
Regards
Jørn
Hi Jørn, thanks for the info about airbnb.com which seems to become a useful and cheap alternative to the hotels.
I don´t have any info about the observation deck and the only source I know is the official website.
Regards
Julian
Hello,
I am a spotter from Thailand. I plan to visit Schiphol during 21-22 March for spotting on Sunday. Can you recommend a suitable hotel in the area that is good for a spotter? Which of these listed locations have good light for this time of year and preferably with background ie. terminal etc.?
Thank you.
Chinaphong
Hi Chinaphong, usually you find all the informations above in the guides. We don´t know where you plan to stay and with so many spots for AMS it would be helpful if you tell us where exactly you wanna stay and what infos you need.
Regards
Julian