Welcome to Amsterdam – trip report and piccies.

After a couple of hours here I went for a trip to the runway. Following Tenthje’s instructions (visit his very informative website). I caught the bus as instructed and got off when the ‘helpful?’ bus driver told me. I then walked down the solitary long painful road that takes you to the carpark that is adjacent to the runway nearly getting knocked into a dyke (giggle giggle!). Eventually I got there and the views of landing aircraft was superb. Unfortunately it became rather cold dark and windy so photography became quite difficult to catch fast moving aircraft. I was looking forward to getting a photo of a KLM 777 landing, unfortunately this wasn’t to be. I saw plenty taking off from the runway about 5 miles away in the distance and landing on another runway that I hadn’t seen behind me. After a couple of hours here I decided to go back to the main terminal because I was cold, wet, thirsty,hungry and needed the bog and as Tenthje describes , be prepared when you go to this location.

Hi,
Lovely photo of Schipol, If you look good you can see the [what was ]FOKKER AIRCRAFT bv factory.
The main F100 F50 production building’s have been demolished.
brings back a few memories,Worked there for 23 years
Regards Peter

Yikes, can’t afford any of the flights I’ve found for 23rd July, is there a major event going down in Amsterdam or something ?

Good question? The hotel is actually the cheapeast I will have paid in this being my 3rd visit there (Holiday Inn-de Bolelaan).

I’m searching out a flight from GLA as we speak. 😀

Yikes, can’t afford any of the flights I’ve found for 23rd July, is there a major event going down in Amsterdam or something ?

I won’t be there. The 22nd and 23rd I have to work, and the 24th I am going to London.

You guys need to get there on Jul 22-24, (23rd for spotting) when I’m there. 😉

I’m searching out a flight from GLA as we speak. 😀

Depends on the runway in use, but the new runway is used as much as possible because the routes do not lead over many cities. Expect planes every 5 to 10 minutes depending on how busy it is.

I hope to be going to AMS with Sandy in the summer at some point!

You guys need to get there on Jul 22-24, (23rd for spotting) when I’m there. 😉

Thanks for the updated info, Peter. That train option, is much more feasible. I’m going to do that for sure. About how often do planes taxi over that little bridge?

Getting there by bus is possible, but that will take a while. I have not tried it by am guessing an hour at least when starting at AMS Plaza. In any case, I forgot the bus number so next time I am there I will have to look it up.

I have finally found the information required. Getting there may not take as long as I expected it to take.

You first have to take the train to Hoofddorp Centraal Station. This takes around 10 minutes from Schiphol’s train station. I believe Hoofddorp CS is the first or the second station.

Once at Hoofddorp CS you should take bus 145 headed for Amsterdam. This bus leaves once every half hour at **:25 and **:55 (during the weekend once per hour at **:25). Ask the bus driver to drop you off at busstop “Vijfhuizerweg”. You will be dropped of at the Jewish cemetary I mentioned earlier. From here it is a 3 minutes walk to the bridge, and a 15 minutes walk to the earlier mentioned crash gate.

To get to the bridge is easy enough as you can see it from the cemetary. To go the crash gate is also easy. Cross the bridge to the other bank of the canal. Walk on into the side road (Vijfhuizerweg) for a few minutes and you will find it.

From both spots a 40-80mm camera should suffice. Maybe a bit more for the smallest of planes, but certainly not much more. The taxiway is fenced though. At the bridge you have no problem with that. At the crash gate there is no problem either as the gate has wide enough stiles to poke your camera through. Between the bridge and the crash gate though you will not be able to make photos, unless you have a step ladder at your disposal.

This information will be added to my site later.

great report and photos Graham. I didnt know Martinair had A320’s and i love the KLM 777.

Great report – good read!

Great!! thanks for sharing .

Great photos. Especially the NW DC10 is great. I have yet to see that one myself.

As for the spot at the bridge, ACA345 is right with the location.

Getting there by car is pretty straight forward, drive from AMS Plaza towards parking P30. Don’t enter P30 but drive to the end of the road, there you go to the right. Continue on that road and go to the right at the traffic lights.

Follow that road. When you see on your left a fake ski-slope (or football stand or something… haven’t figured out what it is yet 😉 ) you must take the first exit to the right. At the end of the exit go to the right. You will now be on the road running next to the canal. Top speed allowed is 80kph (50mph) but going faster is quite possible :rolleyes:. After 5 to 10 minutes driving you will find the taxiway going over the road and canal.

You can either park your car at a nearby Jewish cemetary and spot from the little bridge over the canal (mind the traffic!). Another option is to go into the road running paralel with the taxiway. There you can find a crashgate where your car can be parked in the grass. There is a fence there but the grassgate has large enough gaps to poke your camera through.

Please do not go into the cemetary to spot planes. Some people have done that, and the friends and relatives of the deceased do not like that for obvious reasons.

Getting there by bus is possible, but that will take a while. I have not tried it by am guessing an hour at least when starting at AMS Plaza. In any case, I forgot the bus number so next time I am there I will have to look it up.

Fantastic report and pictures. I’ve only ever changed planes in Schiphol so I didn’t get chance to leave the departures area but I think I’ll have to take a trip there at some point. It looks great.

Great report mate

Great report Graham. Hope to get to AMS one day myself. Your pics are great, especially the one of the NWA DC-10 in the new livery. 🙂

Cheers for posting them up. 🙂

To my best knowledge the location of that bridge is right along the taxiway to the new runway, as you said.

Thanks for that. Even though it might take a while, I just might have to make the trek out there.

Great pictures and glad to hear you flew with Jet2 🙂
LBA is very busy at that time in the morning, I like it at that time a good atmosphere.

You were very lucky to get Jet2s latest 733 witht the special titles.

So then, what did you think of Jet2? I trust you were impressed 😉

When in Amsterdam, I choose to partake in 2 of the 3 aforementioned activities. 😀

Damn you Allen! You commented on the giant six pack before I! I do approve how Graham subtlely got those Heinekens in there along with the Schiphol Airport sign.

Back to aviation, I took the ‘tour’ with Peter when I was in AMS last year, Graham. the only place I didn’t get taken to is that bridge over the canal near the new runway. Any idea where that is in the overhead shot you showed?

To my best knowledge the location of that bridge is right along the taxiway to the new runway, as you said.

Unfortunately I don’t. Hopefully Peter will be online later and I’m sure that he will be able to help out.

He’s already told me where it is, and how to get there. I just wanted to get a visual.

Any idea where that is in the overhead shot you showed?

Unfortunately I don’t. Hopefully Peter will be online later and I’m sure that he will be able to help out.

G.