The single most useful fact about reaching Schiphol is that the railway station lies directly underneath the terminal. You step off the train, take an escalator or lift up, and stand in the middle of Schiphol Plaza with the check-in halls around you. No shuttle, no transfer, no weather. For most travellers from Dutch cities, the train is the calmest way to catch a flight.
Schiphol is one of the busiest stations in the Netherlands, with direct trains from Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden and a long list of other cities, plus international services from the direction of Belgium. Trains run through the night at a reduced frequency, which matters if you have a very early departure or land on the last flight of the day. Check the planner of the railways for your specific journey and add a margin: catching one train earlier costs you a coffee at the airport, catching one later can cost you your flight.
You can pay for Dutch trains by checking in and out with a contactless debit or credit card or with the national public transport card. Whichever you use, remember the golden rule: check in at the start and check out at the end, at the gates or poles marked on the platforms and in the station hall. Forgetting to check out turns a cheap ride into an expensive one. Paper and digital single tickets are also available from machines and apps if you prefer a fixed fare in hand.
Up the escalator you arrive in Schiphol Plaza, the public hall that connects the station, the shops and all departure halls. The overhead signs list airlines and their check-in areas; your booking confirmation also names the hall. From Plaza you are minutes on foot from any check-in desk, a walk described in more detail in our departure halls guide. Lifts are available everywhere, and luggage trolleys can be taken from the platform level up to departures.
In the other direction the same logic applies. After baggage reclaim and customs you walk into Plaza; follow the signs down to the platforms. Buy or activate your ticket before boarding. Trains toward Amsterdam and the major cities leave frequently through the day. If your flight lands deep in the night, check the night train schedule while still in the terminal, and compare it with the taxi option in our bus and taxi guide before deciding.
The train wins on reliability and price, but not always on convenience. Travelling as a family of four with holiday luggage from a town without a direct connection, door-to-door by car or taxi can be simpler; weigh it against the cost of parking. And if your journey involves a transfer on the rail network at peak hour with two suitcases, an earlier direct train beats a theoretically faster connection.
Trains serve Schiphol around the clock, with night services at lower frequency. Check the current timetable for your departure station when planning an early flight.
Domestic Dutch trains have free seating without reservation. International services passing Schiphol can require one; that is stated when you book the ticket.
Dutch intercity trains have luggage racks and space near the doors. There are no luggage restrictions on domestic trains beyond what you can carry yourself.
This website is an independent information site about Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and is not affiliated with the airport, the railways or any airline. Check timetables and fares with the transport operator before you travel.