How early should you be at the airport?
Too late means a missed flight, too early means hours of waiting. The right arrival time depends on your airport, your destination and whether you check in luggage. Here are clear guidelines per Dutch airport.
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Quick answer: European flights: arrive 2 hours before departure. Long-haul flights: 3 hours. With hand luggage only and online check-in, 1.5 hours can suffice at smaller airports. Schiphol needs extra time during holiday peaks; Eindhoven and Rotterdam are more compact but can also be slow at peak times.
The rules of thumb
For European flights be there 2 hours before departure, for intercontinental flights 3 hours. Travelling with hand luggage only and checked in online? At small airports 1.5 hours can do. Flying outside the Schengen zone? Allow extra time for passport control.
Schiphol
Schiphol is large and busy: arrive 2 hours before a European flight and 3 hours before long-haul. During peak holidays and early mornings the security and passport queues can build up considerably. With luggage to check, be on time for the desks, which sometimes close 40 minutes before departure. See our Schiphol guide.
Eindhoven Airport
Eindhoven is compact, but precisely because of that the security queue for early flights can be surprisingly long. Allow 2 hours, or 1.5 hours with hand luggage only and online check-in. More in our Eindhoven guide.
Rotterdam and small airports
Rotterdam The Hague Airport is one of the fastest in the Netherlands; 1.5 to 2 hours is usually ample. The same goes for Weeze Airport. Even so, in peak season it's wise to plan a little extra. See our Rotterdam guide.
How to get through security faster
Check in online and keep your boarding pass on your phone. Pack liquids (max 100 ml) and electronics within easy reach. Wear shoes and a coat you can take off quickly. Travel often? A trusted-traveller programme pays for itself in time.
Hand luggage saves time
With hand luggage only you skip the check-in desk and the baggage belt, easily saving half an hour on each end. Do mind the rules per airline, as they vary a lot. Read our hand luggage guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How early should I be at Schiphol?
Two hours before a European flight and three hours before an intercontinental flight. During peak holidays security and passport control can be busy.
Is 1.5 hours enough for a European flight?
At small, fast airports like Rotterdam, Eindhoven or Weeze that can work with hand luggage only and online check-in. At Schiphol it's safer to allow 2 hours.
How much earlier for a flight outside Europe?
Allow 3 hours, especially at Schiphol, because of the extra passport control and often greater crowds on long-haul flights.
How do I get through security faster?
Check in online, keep liquids and electronics within reach, and wear clothing and shoes you can take off quickly.