How to Find the Amsterdam Airport Playground: Things You Need to Know
We have flown through the Amsterdam Airport with kids so many times (think 7+ times) before we realized there was an amazing playground in the airport! Usually we are just in Schipol airport on a layover, but we’ve also traveled to Amsterdam as a family and have explored the city.
We actually stayed in an amazing hotel in Amsterdam for kids that was a perfect mix of beautiful boutique vibes plus fun things like an outdoor heated pool!
*There may be affiliate links in this post. Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.
Anyway, before our most recent layover in Amsterdam, I stumbled upon some limited information about the Amsterdam airport playground on the official Schipol website and I was shocked we hadn’t seen it before.
I knew that we needed to find it the next time we transferred in Amsterdam- and we did! However, it was a little trickier to find than I expected, so I’m here to let you know how to find it.
Where is the playground in the Amsterdam Airport
Even though we knew this playground existed in the Amsterdam Schipol airport, it was still a little difficult to find. But we found it-it was totally awesome- and I’m here to let you know how to find it too!
The playground in Amsterdam airport is located in an area of the airport reserved for intercontinental travel (we were traveling from Amsterdam to the US) and up the stairs in Lounge 2.
When I first heard that the playground was located in a ‘lounge’ I envisioned an exclusive airport airline lounge and that did not make sense to me 🤪. I then realized that the Amsterdam airport calls the various large, open areas throughout the airport with shopping and food a ‘lounge’.
So, you’ll find the playground located up the escalator that is located right near a large sign hanging from the ceiling that says ‘Lounge 2’.
You can also find the playground if you follow the signs for ‘Yotel hotel’ or the smell of McDonalds because the playground is located right next to both the Yotel Hotel and McDonalds.
If you are getting to the airport from Amsterdam (and not there because of a layover) you will pop out of passport control almost RIGHT next to the playground. All you have to do is turn right, go past the McDonalds, pass the escalators and you’re there!
When we first found the play area in the Amsterdam airport we were traveling from Denmark, through Amsterdam then onto the US. This means that we got off our plane, walked a little bit to passport control, and then once we were through passport control we were in the ‘intercontinental’ area of the airport and were able to find Lounge 2 where the playground is located.
We actually found the playground by ascending a small staircase that led up the back side of the playground instead of the escalators (although the escalators are definitely the easiest way to find it).
What is there to do at the Amsterdam Schipol playground?
Climbing on the clouds
The play area at the Amsterdam airport is a KLM plane flying through clouds- it’s pretty awesome. The clouds are all of various sizes and shapes and make a fun area to climb, slide and jump from. And the bright, LED ‘clouds’ hanging from the ceiling make the playground feel so playful and fun.
Colorful rock climbing
One of the most surprising aspects of the playground is when you crawl in the clouds underneath the plane and are welcomed into a crazy colorful labyrinth of play areas. There are rock climbing holds throughout to help kiddos climb and explore plus paths leading to the cockpit, slide, and other little nooks.
Going down the slide
One of the fun, colorful tunnels within the clouds leads to a fun slide! Your kiddos could play for hours climbing the rock climbing holds within the clouds, exploring the tunnels, and sliding down the slide in the kid’s area of Amsterdam airport.
Piloting the plane
Not only can you climb, slide and jump at this playground but there is also an airline cockpit to play pretend in! It’s a pretty epic cockpit with all of the buttons, gauges, and steering wheels. It’s a great place for pretend play.
Besides the colorful tunnels and rock climbing holds to get to the airplane cockpit, there is also a small staircase your kiddos can climb to get up to the cockpit.
Sitting and relaxing (while the kiddos play)
One of the best aspects of the Amsterdam airport play area is that it’s surrounded by loads of chairs, tables, and couches which makes it a great spot for parents to hang out while the kiddos play. Plus, with McDonalds located right nearby (and other food options not too far away), you can pick up some food and eat while you wait for your flight.
Airplane watching
One of my favorite things about the playground is that there are huge windows lining the wall that look out at the tarmac. The windows make for some great airplane watching if that is something you or your kiddos like to do!
Other activities for kids at the Amsterdam Airport
If you have an extra long layover, you may be able to enjoy a couple of the other fun play areas in the Amsterdam airport. We had a 2.5 hour layover in Amsterdam which gave us the perfect amount of time to get through passport control, find the playground , play and relax for quite awhile, snack on some McDonalds and then walk to our gate in time to board.
However, if we would have had an even longer layover, we would have checked out these two other areas of the aiport. We walked past both the airport library and the NEMO science museum activities on the way to our gate, but unfortunately didn’t have time to stay and check them out.
Airport Library
The Amsterdam airport library has over 1,200 books in loads of languages so you’ll be able to find a book for your kiddos or yourself to enjoy while you wait! There are multiple seating areas with cozy nooks and oversized armchairs for you to relax and enjoy your books.
They even have a communal area where you can leave your personal book and take a new book home with you. We definitely would have loved to cozy up and read some books in the airport library if we would have had time!
NEMO Science Museum Activities
One of the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam with kids is the NEMO Science Museum. And the Amsterdam airport has its very own exhibit of the NEMO Science Museum with eight interactive displays and science experiments for you and your kiddos to enjoy.
Think of activities like seeing sound waves or playing with electricity. For us, the playground seemed to be a place that would keep our toddler engaged for longer, but we would have swung by the science experiments if we had time.
And that’s all you need to know to find one of the best hidden gems in Schipol airport-the playground for kids! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below- I love to talk all things travel.
Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:
- 22 Things to do with kids in Amsterdam + Where to Stay
- The Best Family Hotel in Amsterdam: Van der Valk Amsterdam Amstel
- The Best Double Stroller for Travel to Europe From Personal Experience
Like it? Pin it!
Deborah Bacon Nelson
If we are arriving at the airport, is it a place our kids can play after a long overnight flight? or is it just for departing passengers?
jenessa
Deborah Bacon NelsonHey Deborah! Definitely- we play at this playground every time we arrive in Amsterdam for a layover from the US. For us, the playground has always been on the opposite side of passport control. So we go through passport controls, play at the playground for an hour or so and then head to our gate.:) Enjoy!
Tina
Hi Jenessa,
Thank you so much for the details about how to find activities with younger kids. I am soon traveling alone with my kids from/ to the US with hours of layovers at Schipol, and knowing these activities, and how to find them, makes the journey sound a little easier for all of us.
jenessa
TinaHey Tina! So great to hear- I hope this makes your solo trip a bit easier. You got this!
Alex
Hi, is it possible to visit the playground without a flight ticket? Thank you.
jenessa
AlexHey Alex, you have to have get through security to visit the playground so unfortunately it cannot be accessed without a ticket.