But also if you still really want something special (for those same kids, or for yourself), save that wish for the holiday: nowadays there is a Donsje store at Schiphol, among other places, and for us, the holiday fun gets even better when we finally get that brand-new noise canceling headphones can be taken on a trip fresh out of the packaging. Or that Gucci bag… Just saying.

Shopping break? Good idea. As mentioned, the hospitality offerings at Schiphol have received a massive upgrade recently, and The Wanderer in particular is in no way inferior to a bar in London, New York, or Amsterdam. Beautiful and very good. The perfect spot for a glass of bubbly before departure, but even when you have to wait a bit, you can sit there and enjoy watching the hustle and bustle of Schiphol.

Coffee connoisseurs have nothing left to complain about thanks to the arrival of the Coffee Salon and for Eataly, an Italian-American chain with truly delectable pasta dishes (and very good wine!), we are happy to leave home an extra hour earlier.

Okay, okay, okay… If you don’t go that often, you can also get to Schiphol by train just fine. It’s even the best: you drive right into the airport and even before you get to dropping off your suitcases, you can already have your first treats from Stach in your hands (read: that’s what we would do). But still… Sometimes the car is just the way to go. The nearest parking spot can be arranged through Schiphol. Do you fly regularly? Then a Privium membership is so nice. You park in convenient locations close to the terminal and drive straight in and out with your pass. If you park at Privium Excellence, you even have direct access to the terminal from the garage. Speaking of 'fast in and out': thanks to the Iris scan, Privium members can pass through security control lightning fast, and the Privium lounges are nextlevel.