Get ready for security

Your camera, tablet and laptop are allowed in your hand baggage, as are medicines (where appropriate with a medical certificate), dietary food and baby food. You can also take a small nail file, scissors and tweezers with you as long as the sharp part is no longer than 6 cm. You can take your liquids, gels, creams and pastes in containers of no more than 100 ml (maximum of 1 litre in a transparent bag). Look on this page for more hand baggage tips.

The rules about the size and weight of your hand baggage varies per airline. Please contact the airline you are flying with to check the maximum dimensions and weight of your hand baggage. You can also contact your airline for the rates for (additional) hold baggage.

Find your flight on this website or in the Schiphol app. Scroll to the bottom of your flight details to find the itinerary. Here, you’ll see the expected waiting time. Check how busy it will be on the day you travel. We always recommend that you are in the departure hall at the time your check-in desk opens. This also applies if you have checked in online. If you want to be sure that you can go through the security check at a certain time, book a free time slot.

You can book a time slot for your flight on this website or in the Schiphol app. Enter your flight details and choose your time slot. You can book a time slot for the entire group you are travelling with. This is possible from three days before your departure date.

At Schiphol you go to the security check from the departure hall. At the entrance to the security waiting area there is a banner indicating where you should go if you have a time slot. A Schiphol employee will scan your QR code here. If you walk past it, you will end up in a queue with people who have not booked a time slot.

No, you can leave your boarding pass and passport in your bag at the security check. We check you and your hand baggage here, but not your ticket and identity. This happens at passport control and when you check in and board for your flight.

Yes, your water bottle and other liquids are allowed in your hand baggage. But make sure that liquids and gels are in containers of no more than 100 ml. In total, you are allowed to have 1 litre of liquids, so a maximum of 10 containers of 100 ml, in a transparent zip-lock bag. Containers exceeding 100 ml are only allowed in the event they are scanned and approved by the security officer during the check. You can also take your filled bottle, as long as it is made of plastic or another synthetic material. If your bottle is made of metal, make sure to empty it beforehand. You can fill your bottle again after the security check.

Yes, we recommend that you wear thin, fitted clothing and low shoes at the security check. Your belt must be removed and you must always take off your jacket or hoodie. You only need to take off your shoes if they reach above your ankles. If you are wearing low shoes (below the ankle), you can keep them on for the security scan.

The pockets in your clothing must be completely empty when you go through the security scan. Ensure that you take all items out of your pockets and put them in your hand baggage. You can do this while waiting in the queue for security. This rule applies to everything in your pockets, so loose change or tissues also need to be taken out.

No, everything can stay in your bag at security. The CT scanners at Schiphol can check the items in your bag without you having to open it. You can also put loose items, such as your passport, boarding pass, keys, phone and wallet in your bag when going through security.

Thanks to the CT scanners at Schiphol, it is not necessary to put electronics like laptops and tablets in a separate tray at security. You can leave your electronics in your bag.

No, you can keep your jewellery and watch on for the security scan. Unless a security officer asks you to take something off, such as a very thick bracelet.

At Schiphol your hand baggage goes through a CT scanner. It scans your baggage for prohibited items and dangerous substances. Our high-tech CT scan can even check liquids and electronics. That’s why you don’t have to take your laptop or tablet out of your bag, and why your liquids and bottle can remain in your hand baggage. If the scanner detects something unusual, a security officer will carry out a manual check of your bag. They will tell you what is and is not allowed on the plane.

Everyone who flies from Schiphol goes through the security scan. In the event something unusual is detected, a security officer will search you just to be sure. They may check your entire body, or a specific area indicated by the scanner. If the scanner doesn’t detect anything, you will probably not need to be searched.