Schiphol Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Schiphol Shopping

The Schiphol airport isn’t just for those who are traveling to and from the Netherlands. Anyone on a layover can take advantage of the shops, stores and best buys, so for inside tips read more about what to buy while you’re there.

Schiphol Stores

The Schiphol Plaza is a large shopping center with everything from clothing stores to specialty liquors. The most unique store in the Plaza is Planes@Plaza, and features a unique shopping experience for aircraft enthusiasts. The store was built around a DC-9 cockpit and cabin. There’s a Food Village located within the Plaza as well where you can get traditional Dutch snacks to sustain you through your travels. Or you can find various vending machines with drinks or the ever-popular febo (croquettes.)

Tax-Free Spots

The tax-free area in the airport is a place to buy a variety of items for savings if you’re flying anywhere outside of the EU.  You can get herring, beer, cheese, artisan goods (e.g., mugs, windmills), and tulips here. There’s also a Communication Center if you need to access a phone, fax or computer.

Running Short on Time

See, Buy, Fly has a convenient location right next to the gates if you want to buy some truly last-minute gifts. You can find a variety of gifts here for your loved ones or co-workers, but just be forewarned that your bill may be a little higher than if you chose to shop around within the airport. De Holland is another shop that has some traditional, authentic gifts that are of better quality than the standard souvenir shops. Again, you may end up paying more for these quality items, but they should last longer too.

Prices in Schiphol

While some stores are certainly cheaper than others, Schiphol has stores that are designed to take advantage of its convenience and location for busy travelers going to and from. If you’re planning to venture into the Netherlands towns, you’ll almost certainly find what you need for cheaper. This can be said for both the plaza and for the tax-free area. If you want traditional Dutch gifts though on a layover or are spending very little time in Holland, you can still find what you want at the airport.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about shopping in Schiphol.