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During the May holiday, half the Netherlands wants to fly out on the same weekend. Schiphol is at its busiest on the first weekend of the holiday.
The May holiday is one of the busiest weeks of the year. Unlike in the summer, the school regions are largely off at the same time, so departures are concentrated on the first weekend of the holiday. On top of that come King's Day and the spring public holidays, which bring extra travellers in both directions.
The exact May holiday dates vary from one school year to the next, and sometimes from school to school. Check rijksoverheid.nl and the latest security forecast on schiphol.nl.
Book ahead at a fixed price, even on the busiest departure weekend.
Book your ride in advanceUnlike the staggered summer holiday, the May holiday falls in roughly the same period for most schools, around late April and early May. All those families want to get away on the same first weekend, which makes the peak short but intense.
Officially there is one recommended week off, but many schools add a second week. The first weekend of the holiday is almost always the busiest; the weekdays in between are milder.
Depending on the school year, King's Day (27 April) sometimes falls within the May holiday and sometimes just outside it. It also draws extra visitors from abroad to the Netherlands, so the arrivals hall gets busier too. Around Liberation Day (5 May) you see the same effect on a smaller scale.
Spring brings peaks outside the May holiday too: around Easter, Ascension Day and Whitsun, it is mainly the Fridays and the day before the long weekend that are busy. During the flower season (roughly March to May), many tourists also fly in to visit Keukenhof and the bulb fields.
If you can choose, don't fly on the first Saturday or Sunday of the May holiday, but a few days later. In the middle of the holiday week it is noticeably quieter, both at the airport and on the roads.
Stick to the rule of thumb of about 2 hours for European flights and about 3 hours for intercontinental flights, and add half an hour on the peak weekend. Taking a morning flight? Then the early morning wave (approx. 05:30 – 09:00) comes into play as well.
Around King's Day, many city centres have road closures and diversions, and around public holidays the roads look different from a normal working day. A driver who knows the current situation saves you the guesswork and the stress.
Spring weather is changeable, and a shower or strong wind can shift flight schedules slightly. If you also book your ride back from Schiphol, your return flight is tracked and the pickup time moves with it if you land earlier or later.
Off on a May holiday with the whole family? See the fixed price for your route, for example from Utrecht, Leiden, Haarlem, Gouda, Delft or Hilversum, or find your town under all locations.
The May holiday is one of the busiest weeks of the year at Schiphol. Because almost all school regions are off at the same time, the first weekend of the holiday in particular is very busy, with the familiar morning wave (approx. 05:30 – 09:00) as the busiest part of the day.
Midweek during the holiday (Tuesday to Thursday) is quieter than the first and last weekends. A flight around midday or in the evening also means less time queuing than during the morning wave.
Yes, noticeably. King's Day draws extra visitors from abroad, so on top of departing holidaymakers, the arrivals hall is busier too. If King's Day falls within the May holiday, the two effects reinforce each other.
Follow the usual guideline (about 2 hours for European flights, about 3 hours for intercontinental flights) and add an extra half hour on the peak weekend. The evening before you fly, check the security forecast on schiphol.nl and your airline's advice.
Around those long weekends, it is mainly the Friday and the day before the public holiday that peak, because many Dutch people use them for a city break. The busy spell is shorter and milder than during the May holiday, but still allow a little extra time on your way out.
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