Are you going to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands for the first time? You will most likely arrive here via Schiphol Airport, which is located about 20 kilometers from the Dutch capital. It is one of the most important airports in all of Europe: in 2018, 71.1 million people passed through here. It is connected to 327 destinations around the world, so I hope you can find the most convenient for you. There are three areas dedicated to departures (1, 2 and 3) and each of them has different gates. In its facilities you can find assistance for people with disabilities, with motor difficulties, the elderly and anyone who needs help.
Schiphol Airport Accessibility
In the modern facilities of Schiphol airport one can find assistance for people with disabilities, for people with walking difficulties, for the elderly and for anyone who needs help. In recent years, accessibility services have been greatly expanded:
- Good accessibility for wheelchairs users
- Parking for people with disability
- Accessible bathrooms
- Auditory circuit
- Clear signage
- Lifts and escalators
- Free use of wheelchairs (can be rented in Schiphol Plaza and at the P1 and P2 car parks)
Schiphol Airport has among its staff qualified people to take care of passengers. If you need assistance, I recommend that you report your request when you book your flight: in this way the airline can notify you directly at the airport. The request for airport assistance must be made within 48 hours of departure. Assistance within the airport is provided by Axxicom Airport Caddy.
Do you want to request assistance at Schiphol airport? Click on the following link:
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/requesting-assistance/
Arrival at Schiphol Airport
If you need assistance at the airport, please let us know when you book your travel ticket. The request will be communicated by the airline directly to the airport staff. If you use a wheelchair, the airport staff will give you their assistance: they will wait and welcome you as soon as the aircraft doors have opened. You will be helped as soon as the other passengers have left the plane, so that the assistants can take care of you with the utmost attention. If you can only travel using your wheelchair, the staff will retrieve it from the hold and bring it on board. If the plane has not been parked at the gate, it is possible that there are stairs: if you are unable to descend them even with help, the staff will position a stairlift or ambulift. For the best experience, we recommend that you suggest to the staff how you want to be helped.
Departure from Schiphol airport
We recommend that you go to the airport well in advance. When you arrive, you can communicate your presence at the Axxicom Airport Caddy desk or by using one of the intercoms located in the departures area or in the parking lot. An assistant in charge will arrive at your location as soon as possible and will help you check-in and check-in your luggage (if you can do these operations yourself, you can contact assistance after having performed them). At the security checkpoints you will be checked, as well as what you bring with you, including medical devices with documents. In most cases, the gates are connected to the plane via a bridge. In some cases, when the plane is farther away, a bus is used: if you are able to take the stairs then you will be able to board the bus with the other passengers, otherwise a separate bus will bring you directly to the plane. You will access the aircraft via a stairlift or ambulift. Your wheelchair will be stored in the hold.