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» Schiphol Installs World’s First Airport Library

Amsterdam's exemplary airport offers yet another amenity for travelers

Note: Dick van Tol, library project manager, left a commentto this post  inviting readers to visit Schiphol Airport Library's own website. Reading it and seeing the real photographs, rather than the rendering that I used below, makes this initiative even more impressive. Hat's off to Schiphol Airport, the Dutch national library system and Holland.

Every airport has a bookstore or at least a little convenience store where travelers can pick up snacks, souvenirs and something to read. But Schiphol becomes the first airport in the world with a library. In fact, it is a joint venture between the airport authority and Dutch Public Libraries and offers literature, music and films. Passengers can read books in 29 different languages, listen to music, watch films and download these free of charge.

It is located can be found after passport control on Holland Boulevard, the connecting passageway between Piers E and F, and  is open daily one and a half hours before the first flight departs and closes 30 minutes after the last flight departs. Leave it to the generous Dutch to provide something so uplifting -- and free to all.

It has been a long time since I have traveled via Schiphol, but even back then, it provided excellent shopping, food options and an extremely pleasant place to wait -- and frequent train service to the city and beyond. I loved people-watching, seeing the passing parade of international travelers and hearing many languages, some of which I could identify and others that I couldn't. In the days before fast-changing electronic arrival and departure information, television monitors all over the airport showed a smiling, uniformed and linguistically gifted woman reciting arrival and departure information for every flight in Dutch, English and whatever language(s) were used in the country each flight was going to or coming from.

Since the last time I was at Schiphol, the hospitable airport has added Holland Boulevard, a multi-faceted  space where millions of passengers can enjoy a pleasant stay, shop (of course)and also soak up a bit Dutch art, culture and literature even if they are just in transit. Holland Boulevard also offers cozy living room-like areas with fireplaces, television sets and even a piano. Traveling families have use of the BabyCare Lounge and KidsForest for children to play in tree huts, on climbing structures and on slides. For longer layovers, Schiphol provides not one but two on-site hotels,  the Hotel Mercure with conventional sleeping rooms and individual shower rooms for a quick refresher, and the innovative Yotel. 

The world-renowned Rijksmuseum has an mini-museum at Schiphol where you can see paintings by Dutch masters -- like the library, for free. Among the shops are a a contemporary Dutch Design outlet, a shop selling Van Wely chocolatiers and Aviflora flower shop, though the US Department of Agriculture won't let you bring live plants back to the States. You can lose money at the airport's Holland Casino, or chillax with a Back to Life -chair massages. And if you have a few hours, Great Amsterdam Excursions can book a city tour. On the food side, such typical Dutch fare as poffertjes (miniature pancakes), kibbeling (small chunks of battered, fried cod) and croquettes are on offer in the Dutch Kitchen. The Bols Genever Experience pours Holland's most distinctive spirit.

Over the years, I wondered why US airports couldn't be as flier-friendly as Schiphol. Learning about the recently opened library, I still do.