Transferring from a international flight in Schiphol

You don’t actually “leave” but you follow the signs to transit flights. You go thru passport control there, then security then on to your domestic gate. Schiphol does this very well! If you have a short transit time there will be English speaking staff in that area that will show you to another line.

The only way this will be different is if your bags have only been checked to Amsterdam not your destination. For instance, your AMS to Spain flight is not within the same ticket as your International flight, say on one of the low cost carriers. Are you all on one ticket?

Thanks Pam
Just the answer I needed.

I'm assuming, my return flights connections will be just the same.
I liked how you said Schiphol does this well.
We have landed many times there, the whole airport is, as you say done very well, including transit.
No Bubble Gum allowed ,,very true
John

The answer from Pam is not entirely correct. Canada is on the “safe list” in terms of security check. This means that passengers arriving at Schiphol from Canada who want to transfer to another flight, don’t have to go thru security. So all you have to do is go thru passport control to enter the part of the airport where flights to destinations within the Schengen zone leave. No security.
Passengers arriving from countries not on the safe list, such as most countries in Africa and Asia for example, do need to go thru security if they want to transfer at Schiphol.

Also please note that whether or not you have to go thru passport control when you arrive from Canada, depends on whether or not your destination is within the Schengen zone, not the EU. There are countries that are part of the EU but not part of the Schengen Zone, And there are also Schengen countries that are not an EU member.

Our connecting flight through AMS (to Atlanta) six weeks ago only gave us 50 minutes to land, go thru security and get to our departing gate.

Our travel agent was less than honest telling us the gates were close together. My wife was on her electric personal scooter and I towing two carry on rolling bags sprinting what seemed to be 1/2 mile to our departing flight. Even though we went thru the short handicapped security line, we barely made it to the gate in time.

Just make sure you have time to switch terminals as Schiphol is one very large airport.

TY Dutch Traveler

"Canada is on the “safe list” in terms of security check. This means that passengers arriving at Schiphol from Canada who want to transfer to another flight, don’t have to go thru security."

So very sorry to give you wrong information John! That is awesome you don't have to go thru security! Thank you Dutch Traveler!

And John, for future reference, Schiphol is even easier if you are transiting to a non-Schengen country like UK. You never go thru passport control, just stay in the International section of the terminal.

“ And John, for future reference, Schiphol is even easier if you are transiting to a non-Schengen country like UK. You never go thru passport control, just stay in the International section of the terminal.”

Please mind that this is only true if you also arrive from a non-Schengen country. If you arrive from a Schengen country and want to transfer to a flight to a non-Schengen destination, you will need to go thru passport control to exit the Schengen zone.

Also the terms “international” and “domestic” terminals are incorrect and potentially misleading when it comes to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. There are no scheduled domestic flights from Schiphol Airport, so every single flight that departs Schiphol is international (i.e. to another country). This is different from airports in for instance Paris or Athens. From these airports you can fly to destinations within the same country (domestic), within the Schengen zone or outside the Schengen zone. Schiphol Airport doesn’t have a domestic terminal nor does it have an international one. Airside, Schiphol Airport is divided into 2 parts separated only by passport control; the Schengen part and the non-Schengen part, both under the same large roof.

Ty everyone

My advice: (Assuming all on one booking, or separate booking and no checked bags)

When you exit your plane at Schiphol, it seems a bit different than most airports. Rather than following a maze to a passport control point, you just exit out into the terminal.

From there, start looking for the signs for connecting flights, follow those. As you continue, what you will notice is that you will go different directions depending on your gate, so know your gate, watch for signs, and it will lead you to a passport control point.

If you have a short connection, there will be a monitor, if your flight is on it, you can use the expedited line. But, be aware, I have had connections of an hour, and my flight was not up there. All good, we always make those connections in plenty of time.