Free checker

What time to leave for Schiphol?

Enter your town, flight departure time and luggage to see straight away what time you need to leave home, even in rush hour.

Flying from Schiphol later today? The check works for last-minute departures too, and you can book a taxi up to 1 hour before pickup.

Calculate your fare

Busy Schiphol departure hall: travellers with luggage queuing at the check-in desks

Which town are you leaving from?

What time does your flight leave?

Where are you flying to?

Are you checking in hold luggage?

Choose your town and enter your flight's departure time. You will see straight away what time to leave home.

How the checker works out your departure time

Flight time − time at Schiphol − travel time − margin at home = the time to leave home. It is the same working-back calculation as on our travel planning page, done for you automatically.

Source: Schiphol

Margin at Schiphol

About 2 hours for a Schengen flight, about 3 hours intercontinental: Schiphol's own guideline (schiphol.nl). With hand luggage only it can be a little shorter; at holiday peaks, allow more.

Rush hour included

Travel time from your town

For each town we use the usual driving time to the airport. If your journey falls in the morning or evening rush hour, the checker automatically uses the longer rush-hour travel time.

Buffer

Margin at home

15 minutes for loading up, saying goodbye and small delays. Want more leeway? Simply leave a little earlier than advised: you can hardly be too early.

Crowd indicator

Crowds by time of day

The morning wave (05:30–09:00) and late afternoon (16:00–19:00) are the busiest times at security. The checker shows which part of the day your arrival falls in.

The recommended arrival times (about 2 hours Schengen, about 3 hours intercontinental) are Schiphol's own guideline (see schiphol.nl). Your airline's advice always takes precedence.

For more background on those margins (by situation, season and luggage), read our guide on how early to be at Schiphol.

Questions about when to leave for Schiphol

What time should I leave home for Schiphol?

Count back from your flight time. First subtract the recommended time at Schiphol (about 2 hours within Schengen, about 3 hours intercontinental), then the travel time from your town and a small margin for loading up and small delays. The checker on this page does that sum automatically for more than 170 towns.

How early do I need to be at Schiphol?

Schiphol itself advises about 2 hours for a flight within Europe/Schengen and 3 hours for an intercontinental flight. During holiday peaks an extra half hour is sensible. Your airline's advice always takes precedence.

Does it matter whether I check in luggage?

Yes. With hold luggage you have to go to the check-in desk or bag drop, which takes time. If you travel with hand luggage only, you can go straight to security and the margin can be a little shorter, although the queues at security are the same.

Does the checker allow for traffic and rush hour?

Yes. If your journey falls wholly or partly in the morning rush hour (around 07:00–09:00) or the evening rush hour (around 16:00–19:00), the checker uses the longer rush-hour travel time for your town. No plan can predict extreme congestion or incidents. If in doubt, leave a little earlier.

What if my flight leaves very early in the morning?

Then the time to leave home may fall late in the evening or during the night before. The checker shows this as 'day before'. You can book a taxi 24/7, including for night-time pickups, with no night surcharge.

What is the difference between Departures 1, 2 and 3 at Schiphol?

Departures 1, 2 and 3 are Schiphol's three departure halls. Which one you need depends on your airline; it is shown on your ticket or boarding pass and on schiphol.nl. The halls sit side by side in the same terminal, so it makes hardly any difference to when you leave home: the checker uses the travel time to the airport itself.

Is this official advice from Schiphol?

The margins at the airport (about 2 hours Schengen, about 3 hours intercontinental) follow Schiphol's own guideline; the travel times are the usual driving times per town. It remains an indication: your airline's latest advice and the expected crowds shown on schiphol.nl take precedence.