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One holiday week, two peak Saturdays and October weather that can work against you. This is what the autumn peak at Schiphol looks like, and how to plan around it.
The autumn holiday causes a short but intense peak in October. Because each region only has one week off, air traffic is concentrated on the Saturdays at the start and end of the holiday weeks. Outside those days, autumn is actually a relatively quiet time to travel.
Which week your region has its autumn holiday varies from one school year to the next: see rijksoverheid.nl. You can find the latest security forecast on schiphol.nl.
Book your taxi in advance at a fixed price, even on the busiest peak Saturday.
Book your ride in advanceThe autumn holiday lasts just one week in each region, spread over roughly two weeks in October. As a result, departures are squeezed into a few days: the Saturdays at the start and end of each holiday week stand out in particular.
In October, families head for the last of the sun (think of the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean), while couples tend to book a city break. Both groups like to leave in the morning wave, when the queues are at their longest.
October brings storms, strong winds and fog more often. That can disrupt flight schedules slightly and also slows down the drive to the airport. A generous travel buffer is no luxury in autumn.
Once the holiday weeks are over, the crowds quickly drop back to normal. If you are not tied to the school holidays, November is, relatively speaking, the quietest time of the autumn to fly.
The Saturday your region's autumn holiday begins is by far the busiest day. Leaving a day or two later means less queuing straight away, and often a lower ticket price too.
Check your flight status on the day you travel and leave home a little earlier in bad weather: in a storm or thick fog, road traffic moves more slowly too. The price of your taxi is fixed in advance, even if the weather makes the journey take longer.
The morning wave (approx. 05:30 – 09:00) is still the busiest time in October. A departure between about 11:00 and 14:00 usually means shorter queues at security, which helps if you are travelling with children.
The Sunday at the end of the holiday week, when everyone comes home, is busy in the arrivals hall. Book your pickup in advance and a driver will be waiting at the agreed pickup point when you arrive, whatever time your flight lands.
Heading for the sun this autumn holiday? See the fixed price for your route, for example from Zaandam, Purmerend, Hoofddorp, Woerden, Ede or Veenendaal, or find your town under all locations.
The autumn holiday brings a short but intense peak: one holiday week per region, spread over roughly two weeks in October. The Saturdays at the start and end of those weeks are the busiest, with the morning wave (approx. 05:30 – 09:00) as the busiest part of the day.
The Saturdays at the start and end of the autumn holiday weeks, plus the Fridays before them. Weekdays within the holiday week, and the period after the holidays, are noticeably quieter.
Indirectly, yes: storms or fog can delay flights or bunch them together, making the terminal more crowded at peak times. In bad weather, allow extra travel time to the airport and keep an eye on your flight status.
The guideline is still about 2 hours for European flights and about 3 hours for intercontinental flights. If you leave on a peak Saturday or in the morning wave, add half an hour. Follow your airline's advice as well.
Yes, relatively. After the autumn holiday and before the December rush, November is usually one of the quietest travel months of the year, worth knowing if your dates are flexible.
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