Costs soar at Schiphol: travelers pay Europe’s highest prices for coffee, beer, parking
Travelers passing through Schiphol Airport are facing the highest prices in Europe for everyday expenses such as coffee, beer, parking and taxis, according to a new comparison of travel-related costs.
The comparison found the widest gap in parking fees, with Schiphol charging far more than Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Weeze, Düsseldorf and Brussels airports. Prices for coffee were closer together, though still higher at Schiphol.
“A beer after security is very expensive — somewhere between 7 and 8 euros in my experience, depending on the size of the glass,” Guus Wantia of Vliegveld.info told De Telegraaf.
Dutch travel company Corendon said it will shift more flights to foreign airports to avoid higher flying taxes, airport fees, and parking costs. “If you can park your car much more easily and for less money at those airports, the calculation is simple. With just a few extra kilometers of driving, you save a lot,” a spokesperson said.
Corendon said it understands Schiphol’s need for investment but warned that rising costs could deter vacation travelers. “These prices are very different for the average traveler who flies once a year than for a business traveler who pays for expensive beers with a corporate credit card,” the spokesperson added.
Frank Radstake of the Dutch travel association ANVR said travelers who are price-conscious when booking their flights often abandon that caution at the airport. “It’s striking that travelers are willing to switch to another provider over ten euros when booking, but once at the airport that financially critical attitude seems completely forgotten,” he told De Telegraaf.
A Schiphol spokesperson said the airport itself does not determine prices for food and beverages. “Each entrepreneur determines their own prices in their establishment,” she said. “Schiphol ensures these prices are in line with city-center levels — comparable to what travelers would pay downtown.”
At Düsseldorf Airport, which expects 1.2 million travelers over the next two weeks, coffee prices range from 2.30 euros for an espresso to 4.50 euros for a cappuccino, while a half-liter of beer starts at about 6.20 euros. “Drink prices have generally remained stable compared to broader leisure industry costs,” a Düsseldorf spokesperson said.
Taxi fares also differ sharply between airports, partly due to Dutch regulations that require payment for both time and distance. Uber was not included in the comparison.
“Booking online is absolutely essential when it comes to taxis,” Wantia of Vliegveld.info said, adding that public transport can often be cheaper. “Amsterdam, Brussels Airport and Düsseldorf have a big advantage over smaller airports because they each have their own train stations — often a less expensive option than taking a taxi.
