Large crowds at Schiphol, as summer holidays have also started in the Central region

Schiphol is very busy now that the summer holidays have also started in the Central region of the Netherlands. According to a spokesperson, Saturday is one of the busiest days in the summer period.

Nevertheless, the influx of departing travelers is manageable, and everything is running smoothly. "It's nice and busy," said the airport spokesperson. But we have enough staff on the ground to keep everything running smoothly."

Schiphol previously stated that it expects this summer holidays to be busier than last year. On peak days, Schiphol expects around 81,500 departing passengers per day.

Staff shortages at the airport, including security, caused long lines during holiday periods two years ago. Last week, Schiphol employees said they feared that the already high workload due to the peak travel season of the coming summer would become unbearable, NH Nieuws reported.

Earlier this week, the FNV union noted after a survey among more than 400 employees that airport staff are still concerned about the workload. According to the union, the staff shortages are not yet a thing of the past. "The race to the bottom seems to have stopped, but we are not there yet," said FNV campaign leader Jaap de Bie. "We have to keep an eye on the situation. The workload is unsustainable and if that continues, that means cancelling flights for the health of the staff as far as we are concerned."

Schiphol, for its part, states that the working conditions and workload have the airport's full attention. "We appreciate that unions such as FNV continue to monitor this and provide us with valuable feedback based on their findings. We are in continuous dialogue with the unions and all companies active at Schiphol, including the security companies, to continue to improve the quality of work at Schiphol."

However, Schiphol does not expect chaotic situations this summer but says that travelers should expect to wait longer at check-in, security checks, or passport control. The Amsterdam airport advises travelers to arrive at the airport on time and to check in for the flight at home. Vacationists can also book a time slot for the security check free of charge.

In the Netherlands, the summer holidays start at different times depending on the region. Last weekend, they started in the southern region; next weekend, the summer holidays will kick off in the northern region. These weekends will be very busy at Schiphol. Even when travelers return home on August 19, the airport will likely be even busier.