Schiphol: Airport Views, Art and a Place of Tranquility

Schiphol offers several different points of interest for a stay: planes and aviation history, art, a place of tranquility and the Airport Park. These themes can help you choose which aspects of the destination appeal to you. If you are particularly interested in aircraft, the Panorama Terrace offers a specific point of connection; there are also cultural and quieter attractions. If you are looking for a hotel in Schiphol, considering which of these aspects of the place appeals to you can help shape your choice of destination.

Aircraft Watching and History

The Panorama Terrace on the roof of the terminal building offers the opportunity to watch aircraft up close and enjoy panoramic views across the airport. A real KLM Fokker 100 is on display there, and visitors can sit at the controls in the cockpit. This brings together two perspectives: views of aircraft and the airport grounds, and a direct connection to a specific aircraft model. If you plan to visit the Panorama Terrace, check the latest visitor information about access in advance.

Two historical milestones for Schiphol date back to 1916: on September 19, the first military aircraft landed there; in the same year, Schiphol was established on land reclaimed from the Haarlemmermeer. The first detail gives a precise date and an aviation event; the second describes the site’s creation on reclaimed land. Schiphol’s local history thus connects air traffic with the reclamation of the land on which it was established.

Art and a Place of Tranquility

Rijksmuseum Schiphol is the airport branch of the Rijksmuseum. It opened in 2002 as the first branch of an art museum at an airport. Its connection to art is therefore tied to a specific institution: it is a branch of the Rijksmuseum. Compared with the Panorama Terrace, the focus shifts from aircraft and views to an art museum. This distinction is useful for travelers whose interests lie more in art than in watching aircraft.

The Stiltecentrum is an open space for people of all religions and beliefs, as well as for non-believers seeking tranquility. It explicitly welcomes people without religious faith; what they share is the search for tranquility, not membership in a particular denomination. This makes the Stiltecentrum quite different from the aviation- and art-related places: it is for people looking for a quiet space during their stay.

A Distinctive Feature of the Airport Park

The Airport Park is home to a tree that has been given a second life there. The specific point of interest here is a tree, whereas the other topics described concern aircraft, art or a space for tranquility. The park therefore adds its own distinctive feature to the airport and cultural themes.

Different Priorities for Planning Your Trip

These differences are key when choosing what to focus on: the Panorama Terrace directs your attention to the airport and aircraft, while the Stiltecentrum offers tranquility in an open space. Rijksmuseum Schiphol adds an artistic dimension, while the Airport Park offers another distinctive feature with its tree. This can help you decide whether airport views, art or tranquility best matches your interests during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Nieuw-Vennep, Halfweg, Badhoevedorp, Zwanenburg, Hoofddorp, Lijnden, Schiphol-Rijk, Vijfhuizen

View the broader travel guide: Haarlemmermeer.