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There’s plenty of fish in the sea! Learn all about them at SEA LIFE in Scheveningen

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
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There’s plenty of fish in the sea! Learn all about them at SEA LIFE in Scheveningen

If you’re looking for the perfect uitje (outing) in Scheveningen, look no further! At SEA LIFE, you’ll have the opportunity to admire the magic of the oceans while learning all about the colourful creatures of the deep.

From feeding Piranhas to observing the cutest little otters, this place has something for everyone. With over 45 aquariums to explore, SEA LIFE is a great way to occupy the eyes, the mind, and, most importantly, the kids!

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The immense Scheveningen beach is only a few steps away from SEALIFE! Image: DutchReview

Ready to find out what the fun is all about? Let’s swap those clogs for swim fins, and dive right in! 🤿

From our local North Sea to the world’s oceans

Located right on the promenades of the stunning Scheveningen beach in The Hague, SEA LIFE is the place to be if you want to know all about the Netherlands’ local waters without even dipping in your toes.

Did you know, for example, that the Dutch part of the North Sea has an average depth of 30 metres? Its overall depth is about 90 metres, so that’s about as shallow as we’d expect from this beloved flat country! 

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The jellyfish at SEALIFE Scheveningen are mesmerising to look at! Image: DutchReview

As you make your way through the SEA LIFE building, you’ll move from the cold, dark North Sea, to the more tropical (and gorgeously colourful!) oceans of the world. 

Here, you get the chance to spot a whole lot of real-life Nemos and Dorys and learn all there is to know about the coral reef. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even touch an anemone with your bare hands in the rock pool! 🪸🐠

Take a walk through the Ocean Tunnel

The glorious Ocean Tunnel would have to be the highlight of SEA LIFE Scheveningen. This huge tank, filled with over 180,000 gallons of water, makes you feel like you’re walking at the bottom of the ocean (except it’s a lot less terrifying 😉). 

Underwater-tunnel-with-fish-and-kids-at-SEALIFE-Scheveningen-The-Hague
The longer you look, the more fascinating hidden little (and not so little) sea creatures you’ll spot. Image: DutchReview

“The longer you look, the more you see,” a SEA LIFE employee told us when we visited, and inderdaad, we couldn’t help but be glued to the glass, captivated by all the creatures it contains! 

From tiny critters crawling the bottom of the tank, to Ernie, the turtle who slowly glides over your head, this is the chance to observe ‘em all — even sharks! 

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Discover hundreds of different-looking and colourful fish at SEA LIFE Scheveningen. Image: DutchReview

If you’re curious to learn more about the variety of sea life you’re looking at, ask the staff. They’ll be more than happy to tell you all about the lovely inhabitants of the aquarium! 🦈

Get in on the action during feeding time

Okay, enough observing, time to get involved! How? By joining in on the feeding time of some of SEA LIFE’s creatures! This is a favourite among the kids. 🍽️

An up-close encounter with the cutest tuxedo-wearing waddlers on the planet (penguins) and adorable otters? You betcha! 

Sea-otters-near-water-at-SEALIFE-Scheveningen-The-Hague
Look at that adorable little munchkin. Image: DutchReview

Watch as the staff treats them to a scrumptious feast while telling you about the animals’ quirks and behaviours. Zo schattig! 🐧🦦

If you or your kids are feeling fearless, dive into the world of piranhas (not literally, don’t worry) and experience the rush of feeding these razor-toothed fish! 

READ MORE | We went to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and it was the most fun we ever had as adults (and the kids liked it too!) 

Don’t worry, a sturdy glass wall safely separates them, AND they’re vegetarian, so you can unleash your inner adventurer without risking a nibble. 

SEA LIFE’s commitment to our oceans

SEA LIFE is more than just a fun place to spend a few hours and look at fish. Committed to protecting the home of their inhabitants, SEA LIFE is making waves by protecting marine life and preserving our precious oceans.

Kids-learning-about-sea-creatures-in-aquariums-from-SEALIFE-Scheveningen-The-Hague-staff
The staff at SEALIFE in Scheveningen are pros and will teach kids all about sea animals and plants. Image: DutchReview

Of course, this means they’re committed to educating the next generation of ocean advocates too! In their enlightening exhibits, children learn not just to appreciate the ocean’s beauty, but also to respect it. 

SEA LIFE also has fascinating projects, such as their ‘BREED, RESCUE, PROTECT’ programme. Their activity ranges from matchmaking sea turtles and seahorses, to rescue missions where they lend a helping fin to injured or stranded animals. 

In this way, they want to ensure that our aquatic friends continue to swim, flip, and frolic for generations to come. 💙

Beat the crowds by going on a weekday

Ready to dip your toes into the fascinating world of SEA LIFE? We love to see it! If you want to make the most of your visit, visiting the aquariums on a weekday is recommended. Tickets can easily be purchased online. 🦑

Cool-sea-shrimp-in-rocks-for-kids-to-see-at-SEALIFE-Scheveningen-The-Hague
From sea turtles, and seahorses, to shrimp and piranhas — there are endless different creatures to discover. Image: DutchReview

This allows you to get the most bang for your buck, as you get the chance to explore the aquariums on your own time and have the helpful staff all to yourself to ask all your burning questions. 

What are you most excited to see at SEA LIFE in Scheveningen? Tell us in the comments!

Dutch Quirk #21: Put mayo on absolutely everything

Farah Al Mazouni 🇸🇾 🇺🇸
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5
Dutch Quirk #21: Put mayo on absolutely everything

Dutch mayonnaise is on another level. For expats, the condiment is different in flavour for sure, but it can be seen on EVERYTHING in the Netherlands.

Yes, we mean everything. It’s absolutely not exclusive to frietjes (or patatjes), and (to my surprise) I spotted the substance in a gigantic jar at a store soon after I moved from the United States.

Just when I was starting to think they don’t have those American sizes of things here in the lowlands.

What is it?

It’s a not-so-healthy Dutch obsession with a saucy condiment that has different variations besides the regular mayonnaise, like frietsaus (it literally has all the same ingredients as mayo, just in different quantities). 🍟

READ MORE | The Dutch food dream: 13 unmissable dishes in the Netherlands

We don’t just mean small quantities either: we’re talking spoonfuls of mayonnaise on anything you can get at a snack bar or as an ingredient in Dutch sandwiches.

Why do they like it?

Well, the fried snacks definitely feed this mayo passion. Although it gets a bit too much sometimes, especially if you’re not a fan of the sauce. 👀

Sometimes, if you order a sandwich or some finger food off a menu, you may get mayonnaise with your order on the house. 🤷

Is there a mayonnaise reserve where people go and get a bucketful every week? We can’t be sure at this point. Nederlanders just like it way too much.

Why is it quirky?

Much like any food obsession, it’s reflected in the culture. Mashed potatoes? You get mayonnaise with that. A frikandel? Mayo!

@amstervan

I’m not Dutch but I get that vibe… #zaansemayo #amsterdamlocal #expatsinthenetherlands

♬ original sound – “I’m fine.”

If you hit the nearest Albert Heijn, Dirk, or any other Dutch supermarket, I can guarantee you’ll be encountering either a toothpaste-looking tube or a mega-sized tub of mayonnaise.

There’s no in-between; Dutchies live in extremes.

Should you join in?

In moderation, yes — I don’t know what’s in a Dutch mayonnaise, but it’s definitely delicious and different, sweeter compared to what I’ve had before.

But by the same token, we don’t want you to be called disgusting behind your back.

If you’re dining with a Dutchie, you’ll receive no judgment for binge-eating mayo! 😋

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Tell us in the comments below!

Companies are making ‘skinny’ bikes to bypass Dutch fatbike restrictions

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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Companies are making ‘skinny’ bikes to bypass Dutch fatbike restrictions

Remember the Dutch government’s attempt to reduce fatbikes accidents by imposing an age limit and a helmet requirement? Well, fatbike producers have already found a way around it — they’re making ‘skinny’ bikes now.

It sounds like a joke, but the bike manufacturers are dead serious — in fact, they’ve already started producing the new bikes, reports the AD.

A cat-and-mouse game

Major bike companies such as Doppio, Phatfour and Brekr, who together form the covenant veilig-fatbikes.nl, are openly defying the Dutch government’s initiative.

“If the House of Representatives closes one door, we will open another,” warns Phatfour’s Pieter van Beusekom.

And open it they did: according to Michael Fiering from Knaap Bikes, companies “can already supply the cool skinny bike.”

READ MORE | Everything you need to know about bike insurance in the Netherlands

The companies’ strategy is simple: if the government keeps only targeting fatbikes as opposed to all e-bikes, they will keep coming up with new bike models, forcing the government to play catch-up with its regulations in an endless cat-and-mouse game.

Sounds annoying? Well, that’s the point.

What even are skinny bikes?

Essentially, these new bikes would be the same as fatbikes, but just different enough to circumvent the government’s restrictions.

Since the government has based its definition of fatbikes on a specific tyre size (10 centimetres or wider) and saddle height, all bike manufacturers have to do to work around it is make the tyres thinner and place the saddle at a different height.

And just like that, the “skinny” bike is born.

“It can go fast”

Surely, the Dutch government is one step ahead in this dispute, right?

Well, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management himself doesn’t seem so convinced.

Two weeks ago, he launched a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of fatbikes — except that the slogan was “‘’t kan hard gaan” or “it can go fast”, which made it sound more like an advertisement.

READ NEXT | Everything you need to know about bike insurance in the Netherlands

Much like the bike manufacturers, he thinks that if new restrictions are to be implemented, they should apply to all e-bikes, not just fatbikes.

These concerns, so far, have kept him from getting behind the House of Representives’ current motion.

Does that mean that the government will backpedal on its initiative, or will they step on the gas? We will find out.

What should be the government’s next move in its fight against fatbike accidents? Keep your thoughts rolling in the comments below.

It’s official: sitting in your car during rush hour gets you to work faster than Dutch public transport

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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It’s official: sitting in your car during rush hour gets you to work faster than Dutch public transport

There are many reasons why we find ourselves crammed shoulder to shoulder with strangers at 7 AM on a stuffy yet freezing NS train: it’s cheaper than taking the car (right?), it’s easy (questionable), and it will get you to work faster — or so we thought.

Turns out, we were wrong about that last one.

According to research by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, you’d actually get to work faster if you just sat in your car during rush hour traffic.

Dutch public transport is actually getting worse

One important reason for the research was to ask the following question: has accessibility in the Netherlands increased or decreased in recent years due to changes in public transport?

The answer? Tough tits: it’s getting worse (that wasn’t quite their wording.)

What they actually said was the following:

“Our research shows: the car is always faster. Even during rush hour. From all over the Netherlands, facilities and jobs are considerably less accessible by public transport or bicycle than by car.”

@dutchreview And that's a-moo-zing 🥰 #dutchreview #fyp #netherlands #cows #dutchlife #nederland #dutchviews #train #expatlife ♬ Original sound – ♪✶

But why?

The reason for this decrease in accessibility is simple, albeit frustrating.

“Since 2012, public transport has been cut back in many parts of the Netherlands. This cutback has led to reduced accessibility of facilities and jobs,” the research found.

Another fun finding? “This applies in particular to hospital locations.”

The study found that 30% of elderly people who must take public transport cannot reach a hospital within 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, 12% are unable to reach a hospital within 45 minutes.

However, it’s worth noting that the closing of facilities in smaller town centres has also contributed to these stats.

What can be done to fix this?

The research calls for better political choices to be made when it comes to public transport in the Netherlands.

According to Jeroen Bastiaansen, transport policy researcher at PBL, “investing in the public transport and cycling network is obvious, especially in places where many people have been affected by the reduced accessibility.”

READ MORE | Dutch public transport costs to rise by a whopping 11.7% in 2024

He recommends making “better use of locations near urban centres and around public transport hubs for facilities and employment,” as well as planning housing construction near these locations.

Will the government listen? Let’s keep an eye on the news while we sit knee to knee with each other on our hour-long commutes.

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup 📮

5 things to do when your bike has been stolen in the Netherlands

Emily Hine
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7
5 things to do when your bike has been stolen in the Netherlands

Did you wake up, stretch out your arms, look out the window, and realise your bike is no longer waiting for you outside?

Firstly, we’re sorry for your loss.

It’s true what they say: you’re not a true Dutchie until you’ve had your bike stolen. I thought I was immune to this rite of passage, having had my first Dutch bike/best friend for a whole year.

It was love at first sight. After trying numerous other second-hand rust buckets, I saw Ethel and immediately knew she was the one.

Yes, I am one of those people — a bike namer. But I was charmed by the idea of being a cyclist in the Netherlands.

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Ethel in the park! Image: Emily Hine/Supplied.

Before moving here, I imagined riding through the Dutch countryside on my omafiets, windmills whirring in the background, effortlessly whizzing across the flat landscape.

In reality, cycling in the Netherlands is a different, very sobering experience.

So, let’s have a look at to do when — not if, when 🙃 — someone steals your bike in the Netherlands.

1. Always listen to the Dutch!

When my new Dutch friends would ask me to go somewhere, and we’d all hop on our bikes and ride off like a gang, they would always tell me to make sure I double-locked my bike.

One lock on the wheel and one to chain the bike to an immovable object — that was the secret to ensure thieves couldn’t easily snatch it away.

I dutifully followed this advice, and for a whole year, Ethel and I enjoyed many adventures together in blissful harmony.

The Dutch and cycling are one big harmony anyway:

Until King’s Day. That drunken mess of a day when all rules go out of the window.

I had cycled home from celebrating in the Stadspark, eager to continue the night’s celebrations in the city centre, so I was too lazy (or too drunk🍺) to take my bike into the bike shed. This was my first mistake.

My second was to forget the advice of the people who know bikes best, and only lock my back wheel with a ring lock.

READ MORE | Biking the Dutch dream: The Dutch and their bikes

The next day, I didn’t emerge until well past midday, too intoxicated to ride a bike. So, when I searched for hangover food, I didn’t give a second thought to poor Ethel.

2. Check if it’s gone

The next day was back to reality and back to work. As usual, I searched for my trusty steed amongst all the other bikes on the racks. A minute passed, and I still couldn’t find her.

Oh, silly me! — I naively thought — I must still be tired and haven’t spotted my purple ribbon-wearing beauty yet.

Five minutes passed. By this point, I was frantically muttering, “Ethel? Ethel?? Where are you?”

Time was ticking. I was late for work. Still, I refused to accept that she had gone.

3. Tell everyone you know

I messaged work in denial. “I think someone has stolen my bike! I’m just looking for it — sure it will turn up!”.

Messages of condolence started flooding in from my co-workers. It finally dawned on me when I spotted my ring lock cut in half in the spot I always parked in — someone stole my bike.

I told everyone I knew, friends and family, random passers-by, basically anyone who would listen. There was a method to my madness, though.

The more people who know your bike is stolen, the more people who will look out for it. There’s always a ray of hope that your bike may find its way back to you!

4. Allow yourself time to mourn

The next few days were pitiful. I mourned the loss of a bit of metal and two wheels.

Every bike I walked past, I checked for the ribbon and the falling handlebar grip, and listened for the weird squeak she makes as she breaks.

Okay, Ethel was far from perfect, but she was mine. I felt let down by the whole Dutch cycling thing. I needed time to grieve.

5. Time to move on

After that, every bike has been the same. They just aren’t as good as my first.

My friend took me out shopping for a new bike to cheer me up. Eventually, I found Pamela, and she was okay. She works, and that’s all you can ask from a bike, but the magic is gone.

Now I’m just another bitter cyclist who thinks it’s not worth getting attached to a bike in the Netherlands; they’ll just get stolen anyway.

Have you experienced the heartbreak of having your bike stolen yet? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

First person in the world dies using Dutch-built “suicide capsule”

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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3
First person in the world dies using Dutch-built “suicide capsule”

Last Monday, the controversial “suicide capsule” designed by Netherlands-based doctor Philip Nitschke was used for the first time in a Swiss forest, resulting in the death of a 64-year-old woman.

Te first use of the “Sarco”, as the capsule is called, has led to two arrests, reports the Volkskrant.

“A fast, peaceful, and reliable death”

The Sarco is a capsule designed to help people who decide to end their lives with a fast, painless, and independent death.

It looks like a cabin, with just enough space for a person to lie down inside.

With a view of their choice through the window, they can press a button to gradually fill the cabin with nitrogen, a harmless gas.

Within minutes, this depletes the oxygen in the capsule, causing the person to lose consciousness and, ultimately, die of hypoxia — a lack of oxygen.

In the words of its inventor, Australian physician Philip Nitschke, the Sarco is a “humane” device that “demedicalises death,” giving people complete self-determination over their death by allowing them to “just drift off.”

“We don’t encourage suicide”

The Last Resort, the Swiss organisation supervising the use of Sarco, maintains that their actions stem from the conviction that “a good death is a fundamental human right.”

As such, they don’t profit off the deaths, and only charge clients for the costs of the Nitrogen and cremation procedures.

READ MORE | 8 weird things about dying in the Netherlands

They also don’t accept applicants younger than 50, and subject their clients to a psychiatric examination to assess their circumstances.

The 64-year-old who used the capsule last Monday, for instance, was an American woman who had wished to terminate her life for over two years, as she was in excruciating pain due to an illness.

“The most progressive climate”

Nitschke, a well-known but highly controversial advocate of the right to self-determination, designed and built the capsule in the Netherlands, as he found that “the most progressive climate in this area prevails there.”

After working on it for twelve years, however, he moved his project to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is permitted under certain conditions.

A legal grey area

Whether the Sarco falls within the boundaries established by Swiss law, however, is yet to be decided.

So far, the Swiss authorities have treated the case as illegitimate, arresting both The Last Resort director Florian Willet, who was present at the suicide, and the Volkskrant photographer who was there to follow the case.

Their concerns are mainly about the Sarco’s compliance with product safety requirements, as well as with the Chemicals Act.

What do you think of this controversial method for assisted suicide? Share your opinion with us in the comments below.

Dutch houses have never been so expensive: Here’s why we’re breaking records

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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2
Dutch houses have never been so expensive: Here’s why we’re breaking records

The Dutch housing market has been hit with the largest price increase in two years: owner-occupied homes are now 11.2% more expensive than they were last year. 📈

And just how large was that price increase? Well, according to figures from CBS (the Dutch Bureau of Statistics), the average price of an owner-occupied house reached a staggering €466,207 this August. Ouch!

What is an owner-occupied home?

This refers to a type of occupancy where a person owns the house in which they live. Owner-occupied homes can refer to houses, as well as flats or condominiums.

The housing market is “overheated”, says experts

In a video released last month, CBS chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen compared the current housing situation to that of 2021.

Both cases involve an “overheated” housing market, where prices increase rapidly thanks to sky-high demand and limited supply.

Dutch-owner-occupied-homes-shortage-due-to-housing-crisis
The issue in a nutshell? Well, it’s about as obvious as you’d expect. Image: Freepik

As RTL Nieuws notes, it’s this last factor that continues to fuel the present housing dilemma: the sheer lack of accommodation for sale.

Building new homes is an urgent priority

With the housing crisis hitting critical levels, it’s certainly no coincidence that the Dutch government just announced that it will be allocating a sum of €5 billion to combat the issue.

Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning Mona Keijzer states that it “should be possible to build 100,000 homes in the coming year.” Municipalities will also receive a fixed sum for each affordable home that they build.

READ MORE | Why is there a housing shortage in the Netherlands? The Dutch housing crisis explained

In addition to building new houses, Keijzer has noted that she intends to focus on “making better use of existing buildings.”

How hopeful are you in the latest measures to combat the housing crisis? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The list of Europe’s top 50 student cities is out — and only three Dutch cities made it

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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0
The list of Europe’s top 50 student cities is out — and only three Dutch cities made it

The list of the best student cities in Europe just dropped and — surprise, surprise! — the Netherlands only features three times, coming 12th, 24th, and 49th.

The list was compiled by The Campus Advisor, a website that rates universities across the globe, based on reviews from enrolled students.

Several factors that were used to calculate the rankings include the cost of living, access to public transport, safety, cultural diversity, nightlife, and academic environment.

Which Dutch cities made the list?

The three cities representing the Netherlands in the ranking are Amsterdam (#12), Groningen (#24), and Delft (#49).

READ MORE | A guide to the best student cities in the Netherlands in 2024

Despite failing to make the top ten, Amsterdam ranked first in Europe for “Cultural Diversity”, bagging an overall score of 82.5.

Groningen, in turn, did particularly well in the “Security” department. It ranked third on the list, just behind Zurich and Warsaw — taking home a solid 81.2.

Finally, Delft scored quite consistently above 70 points and totalled a respectable 74.9.

READ MORE | Studying in the Netherlands? Here are 9 things you need to set up

Disappointingly, several popular Dutch student cities like Utrecht, Leiden, and Maastricht failed to make the list.

Whilst more detailed breakdown of its scores reveals that the three Dutch cities in the ranking scored consistently high in most areas, they were dragged down by their exceptionally high living costs.

So, who made it to the top?

Curious to see which cities did do well in the ranking?

Here’s the the top ten list. 👇

PositionCityOverall score
#1Prague, Czechia87.3
#2Heidelberg, Germany86.7
#3Galway, Ireland86.2
#4Budapest, Hungary86.1
#5Granada, Spain85.7
#6Aarhus, Denmark85.6
#7Warsaw, Poland85.5
#8Newcastle, United Kingdom85.2
#9Berlin, Germany85.0
#10Bologna, Italy84.7

Do you think Dutch cities are student-friendly? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Brace yourselves: Dutch health insurance premiums are rising

Liana Risseeuw 🇱🇰
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0
Brace yourselves: Dutch health insurance premiums are rising

Basic health insurance premiums are expected to rise by nearly €10 per month in 2025, thanks to the Netherlands’ ever-growing healthcare costs.

DSW, a Dutch health insurer known for being the first to announce the changes to its health insurance premium for the upcoming year, has just revealed its latest price increase.

Other health insurance providers, reports the NOS, will typically charge a similar amount to DSW.

Expect a price jump of roughly €10 per month

For DSW customers, the cost of basic health insurance (or basisverzekering) will increase from €149 per month to €158.50 — a €9.50 price hike.

To put things into perspective, this means your insurance will now cost you a whopping €1902 per year! 😬

When will I know the exact amount my health insurance premium will cost in 2025?

All Dutch health insurance providers are obligated to provide information on changes to their premiums by November 12 at the very latest.

Therefore, you can expect your insurance provider to release their updated prices before the official deadline.

The future of affordable healthcare is under attack

“We notice that the limit of what people in the Netherlands want and can pay for care has been reached,” says DSW director Aad de Groot.

READ MORE | 9 things you need to know about Dutch health insurance as an international

As healthcare premiums have been steadily increasing for years, “putting the affordability of care under serious pressure,” the insurer is currently making an urgent appeal to politicians — hoping that others follow suit.

In addition to calling on politicians to halt the increases in insurance premiums, de Groot hopes to offer solutions based on healthcare providers, municipalities, and health insurers working in tandem, instead.

How do you feel about the proposed price bump in insurance premiums? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Fun fact: Schiphol has some of the longest walking distances in Europe

Beatrice Scali 🇮🇹
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0
Fun fact: Schiphol has some of the longest walking distances in Europe

Do you ever feel like the walk between Schiphol’s security and your gate is so long that you might as well take a few more steps and reach your destination on foot? Well, it’s not just a feeling.

With 1.5 kilometres separating the departure hall from its furthest gate, Schiphol Airport has the eighth longest walking distance in Europe, according to research by Parkos.nl.

However, it is also one of the most proactive airports in finding solutions to mitigate this problem — specifically, high-tech solutions.

Lots of competition

Schiphol’s walking distance is all the more ridiculous when measured against its Dutch peers, such as Eindhoven Airport (485 metres) and Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, with its cute little 189 metres.

READ NEXT | How to get to and from Amsterdam’s airport: the easy guide

However, Schiphol passengers are far (pun intended) from the only ones who need good trekking shoes to reach their gates.

In fact, Schiphol’s 1.5-kilometre walking distance is not all that impressive when compared to some of its European peers.

Check out the top 10 longest walking distances at European airports.👇

PlaceAirportDistance
1Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain2,503 metres
2Athens International Airport, Greece2,490 metres
3Charles de Gaulle Airport, France2,346 metres
4Frankfurt Airport, Germany1,835 metres
5London Heathrow Airport, UK1,798 metres
6Manchester Airport, UK1,779 metres
7Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal1,609 metres
8Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands1,460 metres
9Vienna International Airport, Austria1,409 metres
10Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland1,343 metres

How is it calculated?

These numbers are the result of a simple calculation performed by Parkos, a comparison website specialising in comparing airport parking spaces.

This time, they branched out and looked at walking distances: using Google Earth, they measured the distance between each European airport’s departure hall entrance and its farthest gate.

Technology saves the day

Schiphol may have some of Europe’s worst walking distances, but it also has some of the best coping strategies.

Besides offering personal assistance to travellers with reduced mobility, since September 2024, Schiphol also offers a free self-driving wheelchair service.

Yes, it’s what you’re thinking: passengers can simply borrow these high-tech wheelchairs, select their gate, and sit back while the chair drives them there.

photo-of-self-driving-wheelchairs-at-schipol-airport
I would feel like I live in 3000 driving around in one of these. 😲 Image: Schiphol Airport

Once they’ve reached their gate, their discreet automatic chauffeur will just turn around and return to its starting point.

So far, this is just a trial service supported by a fleet of ten wheelchairs supplied by WHILL, but if it proves successful, it might revolutionize Schiphol’s passenger mobility.

Will it be creepy to see empty wheelchairs driving around Schiphol like ghosts on wheels? Yes. But will it make travelling a thousand times better for a lot of passengers? Also yes. 😎

Have you engaged in the intense physical activity of walking around Schiphol before? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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