Schiphol VIP Centre Guide: How It Works and How to Get There
Everything about the Schiphol VIP Centre: what the VIP Service includes, how arrival and departure work, where it is and how to get there. Read the guide.
What the Schiphol VIP Centre is
The Schiphol VIP Centre is a private building at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol where passengers on the Schiphol VIP Service handle their entire airport process away from the terminal. Check-in, baggage, security, passport control and waiting all happen in one quiet place, and a car takes you to or from the aircraft. Combined with a chauffeur to the VIP Centre door, you can travel from your hotel to your seat without seeing a queue.
It is the most exclusive way to fly through Schiphol, and it is used by heads of state, executives, artists and families who value privacy. The interiors, redesigned with Marcel Wanders, mix Dutch heritage with contemporary design, and the building also works as a discreet meeting venue.
What the Schiphol VIP Service includes
According to Schiphol, the VIP Service covers:
- A (private) lounge with food and drinks.
- Check-in for your flight inside the VIP Centre.
- Baggage handling, so you do not carry suitcases through the airport.
- A private security check.
- Passport control within the VIP Centre.
- Transport between the VIP Centre and the aircraft by limousine or luxury bus.
Options such as a fully private lounge and extra services are available at additional cost. Rates are set by Schiphol and published on its official VIP pages, so always check the current tariffs when you plan.
How a VIP departure works, step by step
- Your chauffeur collects you at your hotel, office or home, timed to your VIP Centre check-in rather than the terminal.
- Drop-off at the VIP Centre entrance on Jan Plezierweg. There is no terminal kerb, no trolley and no walk through the departure halls.
- A host welcomes you and takes your passport and luggage.
- Check-in, security and passport control happen in the building while you wait in the lounge.
- You are driven to the aircraft when boarding begins.
Because the VIP Centre sits apart from the terminal, your driver needs to know exactly where to go. SilverDrive chauffeurs drive to the VIP Centre routinely and plan the timing with you.
How a VIP arrival works
On arrival, a VIP host meets you at the aircraft door and a car takes you straight to the VIP Centre. Passport control and baggage reclaim are handled for you while you relax. Your chauffeur waits at the VIP Centre, not in the arrivals hall, so the handover from airport to road is seamless. SilverDrive tracks your flight, so an early or late landing simply moves the pickup time. Airport arrivals include 60 minutes of free waiting.
Who uses the Schiphol VIP Centre?
The VIP Centre is not only for celebrities. In our experience the typical guests are:
- Executives on tight schedules who want to land, clear formalities and be in a meeting in Amsterdam or The Hague within the hour.
- Families travelling with children or elderly relatives, for whom long walks and queues are genuinely tiring.
- Diplomats and government delegations heading to The Hague, where protocol and privacy matter.
- Public figures who prefer not to be recognised in a crowded terminal.
- Business hosts who use the building to welcome an important guest or hold a short meeting before a flight.
VIP Centre or business class lounge?
| Schiphol VIP Centre | Airline lounge (e.g. KLM Crown Lounge) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Separate building | Inside the terminal, after security |
| Check-in and security | Private, in the building | Public terminal process |
| Passport control | In the VIP Centre | Public border control |
| Transport to aircraft | Private car or luxury bus | Walk to the gate |
| Access | Paid VIP Service booking | Ticket class, status or day pass |
| Chauffeur drop-off | At the VIP Centre door | Terminal departures kerb |
If you mainly want a comfortable place to wait, a terminal lounge does the job. If you want to skip the terminal entirely, for privacy, security or time, the VIP Centre is in a different league.
Getting to the VIP Centre with a chauffeur
Driving times to the VIP Centre in normal traffic:
- Amsterdam city centre: about 25 to 35 minutes.
- Amsterdam Zuidas: about 15 to 20 minutes.
- The Hague: about 40 to 50 minutes.
- Rotterdam: about 50 to 60 minutes.
- Utrecht: about 35 to 45 minutes.
SilverDrive runs dedicated Schiphol VIP Centre transfers in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, BMW i7 and, for families or delegations, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and EQV. Prices are fixed at booking, with no meter and no surge.
Tips for using the Schiphol VIP Centre
- Book the VIP Service early. Lounge capacity is limited, especially around holidays and major events.
- Share your VIP booking details with your chauffeur so the pickup time is planned around VIP check-in, not terminal check-in.
- Bring the same documents you would for a normal flight. The process is private, not reduced.
- Plan connecting road travel in advance. Many VIP clients continue straight to The Hague, Rotterdam or across the border. A chauffeur can wait while you finish a meeting at the VIP Centre.
- Flying private? Business aviation at Schiphol runs through the FBO side of the airport. See our Jet Aviation Amsterdam transfers.
Combine the VIP Centre with a chauffeur
The VIP Service removes the airport. A good chauffeur removes the road. Together they turn Schiphol into a private, predictable part of your trip. For more on lounges inside the terminal, read our guide to the VIP lounge at Schiphol, or see how our airport transfer service works.
Ready to plan your arrival or departure? Book your VIP Centre transfer or ask us for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Schiphol VIP Centre?
The Schiphol VIP Centre is a separate building at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol where VIP Service passengers check in, clear security and passport control privately, wait in a lounge and are driven to and from the aircraft. You never pass through the public terminal.
Where is the Schiphol VIP Centre located?
The VIP Centre is at Jan Plezierweg 1 at Schiphol, away from the main terminal building. Chauffeurs drive directly to its entrance, which is one of the main advantages of combining the VIP Service with a private transfer.
How much does the VIP Service at Schiphol cost?
Schiphol publishes its VIP Service rates on its own website, with prices per passenger and options such as a private lounge. Rates change, so check the official rates page when you book. Your chauffeur transfer is priced separately and fixed in advance.
Can anyone use the Schiphol VIP Service?
The VIP Service is a paid service and is booked separately from your airline ticket. It covers departures, arrivals and transfers. Book ahead, especially in peak season, because capacity in the private lounges is limited.
Is the VIP Centre the same as a business class lounge?
No. Airline lounges such as the KLM Crown Lounges sit inside the terminal after security. The VIP Centre replaces the terminal process altogether: check-in, security, passport control and transport to the aircraft are handled privately.