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November 30, 2019Rotterdam The Hague Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on July 17, 2026
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM/EHRD), previously called Zestienhoven is located just north of the city of Rotterdam. It is the third largest airport in The Netherlands. In 2023 the airport handled over 2 million pax. Passenger services includes the following airlines: Most traffic is generated by Transavia and TUIfly. It is also used by flying schools, flying clubs and lots of private aircraft. You can also expect some government aircraft, visiting the Dutch government in The Hague.
For flight information, visit the airport website: Arrivals and Departures
Written by Bas Velders with photos provided by Cor Mout. Last change: July 2026 (Spot 1,2,10,11,12 updated).
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 06/24 | 2.200 m/7,218 ft Asphalt |
| Terminals | One for all flights. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Recommended for spots 2, 4, 5, 8 and 11 |
| Car/Public Transport | Recommended, but not necessary as there is a good public transport around the field. |
| Restrooms | Only at the terminal and spot 3. |
| Drinks/Food | Only at the terminal and spot 3. |
| Hotels | There are two located at the airport: World Hotel Wings and Best Western. |
| Season | We suggest May-October as this is the summertime. It can get very cold during the winter and a lot of fog can come up. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 06/24 | Used for arrivals and departures in both directions (depending on the wind). |
Bovendijk - Arrivals Rwy 24
| WHERE | By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. Pass underneath the runway and park at the parking at the Teugeweg. Walk along the bicyclepath to get your favourite spot.
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), cross the road and walk to the Teugeweg along the N471. |
| WHAT | You only can take pictures of landing aircraft on 24. |
| TIME | The best time is from sunrise till 14:00. |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks (the terminal is a 10 minute drive). |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/BAe146: 150-250 mm, GA: 300-400mm |
Crashgate bovendijk - Dep./Arr. Rwy 24
| WHERE | By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. Pass underneath the runway and park at the parking at the Teugeweg. The crashgate is the only place to photograph runwayaction. The view is heavily obstructed by fences, construction and other objects, but is is possible.
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), cross the road and walk to the Teugeweg along the N471. Note: the spot west of spot 2 (marked with an X on the map) is obstructed with a fence. |
| WHAT | Best for arriving aircraft runway 24 and taxiway for departing 24. Departures from 06 can be seen as well but step a bit back. |
| TIME | The best time is from sunrise till 14:00. |
| MISC. | Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks (the terminal is a 10 minute drive). For ground photos take pics trough the crash gate fence or with a 3 step ladder over the fence. But don’t stay here for too long. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 160-200mm |
Brasserie Waalhaven - Arr./Dep. Rwy 06/24
| WHERE | Spot 3 is located on top of the restaurant/bar/lounge SPAZIO. The building is modeled after the terminal building of Airport Waalhaven, which existed from 1920 until 1940. NOTE: Always check with the staff if it is okay to spot on top. It is not always possible due to events.
By car: To get there follow signs towards ‘Lang parkeren’/’Long stay parking’ (Parking P10). Then go onto the Brandenburglaan. You can park on the parking area of the restaurant. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at Lutonbaan. |
| WHAT | All runway movements. |
| TIME | They are very kind on receiving spotters on the top deck. Same rules aply, so before going upstairs, please ask the staff and even better, to support them; take a drink, snack or a meal. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is inside the building. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-200mm |
Brandenburgbaan - Dep. Rwy 24/Platform
| WHERE | By car: To get there follow signs towards ‘Lang parkeren’/’Long stay parking’ (Parking P10). Then go onto the Brandenburglaan. You can park on the parking area of the restaurant (Spot 3).
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at Lutonbaan. |
| WHAT | All platform movements and departures rwy 24. |
| TIME | From early mornings until ~12.00 |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence but there also one photo hole in the fence! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Platform: 160-250mm, takeoffs rwy 24: 300-350mm |
Fairoaksbaan - General Aviation Apron
| WHERE | There are various spots at the General Aviation area. |
| WHAT | General aviation traffic. |
| TIME | All day long (depending on the spot). |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-300mm (depending on the spot). |
Airport Restaurant 'Grandcafe De Horizon' Terrace - Platform
| WHERE | Spot #6 is located at the airport restaurant. At the airport, go to the first floor (stairs in the middle of the terminal). For more information: https://dehorizonrotterdam.nl/. The terrace is fenced by glass, so taking pictures can be difficult (if you are tall enough, you may be able to take photos over it).
By car: Follow signs to the airport. You can park your car at the short stay parking (P2). By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the airport terminal. |
| WHAT | All platform movements. |
| TIME | The best time is from 14:00 until sunset. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (depending on the last departing flight). NOTE: the restaurant and/or the viewing area is not always open due to events. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is in the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200mm |
Rotterdamsche Aeroclub - Platform
| WHERE | Just next to the airport terminal is the Rotterdamsche Aeroclub. Alongside the fence you can see all platform movements. You can park your car at the short stay parking (P2).
Update September 2023: building has been removed and this spot is available again |
| WHAT | All platform movements. |
| TIME | The best time is from 14:00 until sunset. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is in the terminal. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Platform: 24-200mm |
Arlandabaan - Arrivals Rwy 06
| WHERE | By car: From the A13, follow signs to the airport (go right on the Vliegveldweg, go left on the Rotterdam Airportbaan). Then go left before the petrol station on the Zaventembaan. You can park your car on the spot. You can also stand on the nearby long term parking to photograph the arrivals. (P3) but you have to shoot between the lightpoles.
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg. |
| WHAT | Arrivals runway 06 and the general aviation platform. |
| TIME | For arrivals best time is all day in winter plus late morning until early afternoon in summer. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-200mm 738/A320=130mm |
Achterdijk - 06 arrivals and line-up
| WHERE | By car: From the A13, follow signs to the airport (go right on the Vliegveldweg), Then go right to the Best Western hotel and turn onto the Achterdijk. Park near the hotel and walk onto the Achterdijk or continue on the small road till the small park at Otterdijk (see photo below).
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg. |
| WHAT | Arrivals and line-ups for runway 06 plus the general aviation platform. |
| TIME | For arrivals best time is all day in winter plus late morning until early afternoon in summer. For line-ups the best time is in wintertime from 1300 till sunset and summertime from 1400 till sunset. And GA platform also best for those times. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. No ladder needed for line-ups as position is elevated. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Arriving aircraft: 80-150mm, GA platform: 300-400mm. |
Doenkade/Schieveensedijk - Arrivals Rwy 06
| WHERE | The location is on a bicycle path, at a crash gate, next to runway 06 treshold. Parking direct at the spot is not possible, but there is a small lot Schieveensedijk. From there its a 5 minute walk.
By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg. Walk along the bicycle path to spot #10 (approx. 10 minutes). |
| WHAT | Arrivals rwy 06. |
| TIME | The best time is from 17.00 until sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 735=140mm; ERJ=160mm |
Spottersplek Doenkade - Arr./Dep. Rwy 24
| WHERE | By car: Access is from the east side of the airport (Spots 1/2) via Bovendijk. From there turn into the narrow Landscheiding road which runs on the north side of the runway. Continue on the road until the location, you won’t miss is. Park you car near the spot by the roadside.
By foot: From spot #1 it is a 15 minute walk. Follow the bicycle path until you reach the Langscheiding road. |
| WHAT | In general all movements can be seen. Best for arrivals and departures rwy 24. 06 arrivals rolling out can be spotted too. |
| TIME | The best time is from 17.00 until sunset in the summer only. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. The airport placed ‘spottersholes’ in the fence, but we recommend a 3 step ladder to clear the fence. The holes are a bit high around 1,6m |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200-300mm |
Landscheiding - Arrivals Rwy 24
| WHERE | By car: Access is from the east side of the airport (Spots 1/2) via Bovendijk. From there turn into the narrow Landscheiding. Get rid off the car near the spot by the roadside.
By foot: From spot #1 it is a 5 minute walk. Follow the bicycle path until you reach the Langscheiding road. Then follow the road for 800 meters. |
| WHAT | Arrivals rwy 24. Ground photos are not possible because of installed solar panels. |
| TIME | The best time is from 17.00 until sunset in the summer only. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200-300mm |
I really wouldn’t recommend spotting at locations: #1, #2, #12 and #11 since there’s a lot of fencing and a very limited view because of it, aswell as standing under the aircraft approaching because of street lights blocking the view and ruining the shots. Departing aircraft are only visible with fencing ruining the view. Not recommended.
At point #1 and #2 you can take pics of landing aircraft. No problem at all. At#2 you can also take pics trough the crashgate fence or with a 3 step ladder over the fence. Don’t stay here to long. At #1 no problems just shoot in the air.
At #11 you can take pics of landing aircraft on the 24 or aircraft roling out landing on the 06.using a 3 step ladder is advised. at #12 you can take pics of landing aircraft onn rwy 24. So spotting at these locations is very good possible. (and yes I’m a local spotter at RTM for almost 40years.
at point #10 is a lot of construction work for the new A16 highway extension. It is now not possible anymore to reach this point by car. Advise to park your car at the nearby carpool parkingplace beind the traffic lights.
At #2 the crashgate just before the holding point for the V6 entry to RWY 24 the view on the taxi track is now clear. Only aircraft are not visible when approaching this point. You see them at the last moment when they apear behind the earth wall. Still stairs are better but trough the fence is also possible with small diameter lens.
At point #5 beware that at the Erasmus catering an Fairoaksbaan side they recently put electric security wiring at the fence on top and on the airside part of the fence. Photography is still possible but beware where you touch the fence. Better is to take some stairs and take pics trough the wires at some distance and don’t touch it all.
Just a heads-up, on spot 11, the spottershole is a bit high. I’m 1.80m and have to stand on my toes to reach it properly 😉
Good to know, thanks for the hint.
-Julian
At spot 8 you can also stand on the long term parking. (P3). You have to shoot between the lightpoles but in the morning a very useful spot.
At spot 3 the restaurant has new owners, but they are still very kind on receiving spotters on the top deck. Same rules aply, so before going upstairs, please ask the staff and even better, to support them; take a drink, snack or a meal. New name is Spazio. (https://spaziorestaurant.nl/).
Changed owner, there less keen on spotters on there deck, but the grass is ok but clean up when you leave!!!
There’s a phone-hole in the fence at spot 4 (Brandenburgbaan)
It has been noted. Thanks for the info Pascal!
-Julian
Runway usage is not correct. 06-24 is the Runway at Rotterdam. And many thnx for this guide from my hometown airport. I also have a photoblog for many years now. I put a link to this guide at my blog. If that is allright with you.
Indeed it was wrong in the description. Thanks for linking us!
-Julian