Schiphol always ready never finished: Designs 1975–2025

The follow-up to the sold-out book Schiphol: Groundbreaking Airport Design 1967–1975
New photography by Nelson Kon and Kees Hummel
Sheds light on the architectural DNA of a Dutch icon

By the late 1980s, Schiphol was bursting at the seams. Management wanted to double the airport’s size and transform it into a transfer terminal (a ‘hub’) within three years. In addition, the airport developed into an Airport City, hosting international businesses and services. Everything happened simultaneously, whilst the airport remained in continuous operation.

Benthem Crouwel NACO designed the expansion and remained involved with Schiphol as its in-house architect for almost forty years. The plans had anticipated a maximum of 35 million passengers per year, but the figure doubled. Schiphol continually adapted through smart expansions. Thanks to a sophisticated design strategy, human scale and passenger comfort were maintained.

The book looks back on 50 years of constant change at Schiphol, during which the airport has nevertheless remained true to itself.