Need a cigarette before or after your flight? I get it, and here is the honest answer: there is only one place to smoke at Schiphol, and it’s outside, at Jan Dellaertplein, before security. Inside the terminal, smoking and vaping have been banned since 1 April 2020.
Smoking at Schiphol at a glance (checked 2 November 2026)
- Smoking zone: outside at Jan Dellaertplein, before security, see the map
- After security: no smoking area at all, relax in the Aspire Lounge instead
- E-cigarettes: not allowed inside the terminal either
- Transfer passengers: you’ll go through security again, store your bag in a locker
- Into the city: 15-20 minutes, Airport Express bus return ticket
- On to Paris: direct trains from Schiphol, check train times and prices
Last verified: 2 November 2026
Is smoking allowed at Schiphol airport?
No. There is no smoking area anywhere inside the terminal, before or after security. Since 1 August 2020 smoking is also not allowed in the parking garages. This all followed a Supreme Court decision to close all smoking zones in the Dutch hospitality sector.
Where is the Schiphol smoking area?
There is only one smoking zone at Schiphol, and it’s before security. You can smoke at the marked spots on Jan Dellaertplein, the square outside Schiphol Plaza.
Dutch law bans smoking indoors in all public spaces, and at Schiphol the ban also covers e-cigarettes. So please don’t light up in the toilets or near the gates.
Smoking rules for transfer passengers
The same rule applies if you’re transferring. Waiting for a connecting flight and want to smoke? You’ll need to go out to Jan Dellaertplein too. Keep in mind that you then have to go through security again, which can take a while, and in some cases you may also need a visa to enter the Netherlands.
Don’t want to drag your hand luggage through security twice? Schiphol’s luggage lockers are open 24/7, both before and after security, so you can store your bag and travel light. Read more about luggage storage at Schiphol.
Rather skip the second security queue and just relax before your flight? Then I’d go for Aspire Lounge access at Schiphol: a comfortable place to unwind with food, drinks and WiFi, without leaving the terminal.
Have a few hours before your flight? Here’s how to spend them
If you’re not just passing through but have some time before or after your flight, Amsterdam city centre is only 15-20 minutes away by train. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Getting to the city centre
See my full guide on how to travel from Schiphol to Amsterdam city centre. The easiest way with luggage is the Airport Express bus, which stops right at Museumplein.
Travelling on to Paris? You don’t need to go into Amsterdam first: direct trains to Paris leave from Schiphol station, right under the terminal. Check train times and prices, or read my guide to the train from Schiphol to Paris.
What to do with a few hours in Amsterdam
- What to see: if it’s your first time, start with my 2-day Amsterdam itinerary or browse the full things to do in Amsterdam guide.
- A canal cruise: the classic 1-hour Lovers cruise from Central Station fits a layover well: it’s affordable, leaves every 15-30 minutes depending on the season, so you don’t have to plan around a time slot, and it brings you back to the same spot near the station.
- Museums: the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are both on Museumplein, reachable directly from the airport on bus 397 (Amsterdam Airport Express). Both need a time slot booked in advance, and Van Gogh often sells out, so book before you land. Here is how far ahead to book Rijksmuseum tickets.
- Visiting in winter? From 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 the Amsterdam Light Festival lights up the canals, best seen from a boat after dark. And until 17 January 2027 the Stedelijk on Museumplein shows the big Yayoi Kusama exhibition, with Kusama tickets from € 32,50.
- Visiting in spring? Check out the seasonal direct bus from Schiphol to Keukenhof, handy if your layover falls in tulip season.
FAQ about smoking at Schiphol
Can you smoke after security at Schiphol?
No. There is no smoking area anywhere inside the terminal, before or after security. The only place to smoke is outside at Jan Dellaertplein, in front of Schiphol Plaza, which is before security.
Is there a smoking lounge or smoking room at Schiphol?
No. Since 1 April 2020 there are no smoking rooms or smoking lounges anywhere inside Schiphol, also not after security. The only smoking zone is outside at Jan Dellaertplein, before security.
Can you vape or use e-cigarettes at Schiphol?
No. The smoking ban at Schiphol applies to e-cigarettes as well as regular cigarettes. The only place to vape is the same outdoor smoking zone at Jan Dellaertplein.
Do transfer passengers need to go through security again to smoke?
Yes. If you’re waiting for a connecting flight and want to smoke, you’ll need to go to Jan Dellaertplein and pass through security again afterwards, which can take time. In some cases you may also need a visa to enter the Netherlands.
Can I smoke in the Schiphol parking garages?
No. Since 1 August 2020 smoking is also not allowed in the parking garages at Schiphol.
For the official, most up-to-date policy, you can also check Schiphol’s own smoking information page.
Have a good trip from Schiphol!
Related articles
- How to travel from Schiphol airport to Paris by train
- How to get from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam city centre
- Amsterdam Airport Express: bus line 397
- I amsterdam City Card: is it worth it?
- Schiphol airport railway station
- Amsterdam public transport tickets
- Night buses in Amsterdam
- How to travel from Schiphol airport to Keukenhof
About the author
Written by a local
Anastasia Dudina
I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2013 and exploring it ever since. I write and update all articles on Holland Explorer and Amsterdam Explorer myself: real tips, not tourist traps. All of them are kept regularly updated, and if you find this guide helpful, sharing it is the best way to support the project.