Busiest periods of the year
The busiest periods at Schiphol are directly linked to Dutch school holidays and public holidays:
Summer holidays (July–August): the absolute peak period. In the first week of the summer holidays in Noord-Holland it is extremely busy. Expect queues of 45–60 minutes at security.
May holidays: one week, but very busy — many families fly off for a short trip.
Autumn holidays (October): the crowds build up over the weekend before the holiday.
Christmas and New Year: 23–26 December and 29–31 December are consistently the busiest days of the year. Expect at least 30 minutes of extra waiting time.
Good to know
The first days of the summer holidays are among the busiest days at Schiphol every year. Allow extra time on those days.
Busiest days of the week
Besides seasonal patterns, there are also fixed weekly patterns:
- Friday: the busiest day of the week. Many business travellers fly back on Friday morning, holidaymakers leave in the afternoon and evening.
- Sunday: the second-busiest day. Holidaymakers return, the next group departs.
- Monday: busy in the morning because of business travellers.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: the quietest days of the week.
Want the fewest crowds? Fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Busiest hours at Schiphol
Within a day there are also peak hours:
- 06:00–10:00: early morning peak, many business flights to London, Frankfurt and Paris.
- 10:00–14:00: relatively quiet, shortest queues at security.
- 14:00–19:00: afternoon peak, holiday flights to Spain, Greece and Turkey.
- 19:00–22:00: evening peak, intercontinental flights depart (New York, Dubai, Bangkok).
It is usually quieter between 10:00 and 14:00 and in the evening after 21:00.
Good to know
For summer 2026, Schiphol expected an average of around 219,000 travellers a day (departing, arriving and transferring combined). In summer 2025 it was around 213,000.
How early should you be at Schiphol when it is busy?
On a normal day Schiphol advises:
- European flights: be at Schiphol 2 hours before departure
- Intercontinental flights: 3 hours before departure
Our advice: during busy periods (summer holidays, Christmas), allow an extra 30–45 minutes. The queue at security can then reach 45 minutes, whereas it is normally 10–15 minutes.
Book your taxi early in busy periods
During school holidays and public holidays, demand for taxis is high. AMS Taxi Schiphol advises booking at least 48–72 hours in advance in these periods to guarantee your preferred pick-up time.
Book early, especially if you are leaving in:
- The first week of the summer holidays (Noord-Holland)
- Christmas and New Year week
- The May holidays and autumn holidays
Is family dropping you off? Bear in mind that the drop-off zone is at its busiest on those days; read how Kiss & Ride works at Schiphol before you set off.
Book online or call +31 85 400 5400.
Good to know
In the first week of the summer holidays, demand for taxis to Schiphol from the Haarlem region is much higher than in a normal week. So book in good time.
Avoiding the crowds: practical tips
Want to avoid the crowds at Schiphol?
1. Fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday — consistently the quietest days
2. Avoid the first day of school holidays — maximum crowds
3. Choose a flight between 10:00 and 14:00 — the quietest hours at the airport
4. Check in online and use only the bag drop
5. Use the Schiphol app for the current waiting time at security
6. Book your taxi early — availability is limited in busy periods
