Zandvoort Beach for Amsterdam

Amsterdam Gateway

Schiphol is one of those places that confound the senses. Always busy, lively, international and glamorous. But it certainly hasn’t always been like this; the grounds of the airport used to be at the bottom of a lake. It’s what we call a polder, a piece of reclaimed land that was ‘brought to the surface’ by mills like the Cruquius. Visit this mill from 1849 – an industrial monument of world-class standing. Nowadays Schiphol effervesces with expectant energy. Sipping coffee on a terrace and watching the world go by is great fun. And making your last-minute purchases for home is something you can do both before going through passport control or after. Souvenirs and flowers as well as designer clothing, shoes, bags and other fashion items. Shopped till you’ve dropped and legs in need of a rest? Relax in the Sheraton Fitness & Spa or have a massage at Back to Life. In this way you can start your journey in relaxed fashion. Or would you rather look for excitement in the Holland Casino? Or peace and quiet in the only auxiliary branch of the Rijksmuseum between the E and F piers? Whatever you do, just have fun and leave plenty of time for this final stop!