Is There a Smoking Section in Amsterdam Airport?

If you’re passing through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and wondering whether you can have a smoke before your flight, the short answer is: yes, but only outside the terminal. Schiphol Airport no longer has any indoor smoking areas, including in departure lounges, airside gates, or lounges.

This is part of the Netherlands' broader approach to creating a smoke-free environment in public places, including airports.

Smoking Areas at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, located outside the terminal building. These areas are available before security, near the main entrances to the terminal.

Once you enter the terminal and pass through security to the departures area, you won’t be able to smoke or vape anywhere indoors or airside. There are no longer any smoking rooms or terraces in the departure lounges.

Can You Vape at Amsterdam Airport?

Vaping is treated the same as smoking at Schiphol. That means e-cigarettes can only be used in the designated outdoor smoking areas, not inside the terminal or at boarding gates.

You can carry a vape through the airport and onto the plane in your hand luggage (as per airline rules), but you cannot use it indoors or during the flight.

What Changed?

Until a few years ago, Amsterdam Airport had several indoor smoking rooms, including some located past security. However, as of April 2020, Schiphol closed all indoor smoking areas to comply with Dutch tobacco legislation, which bans smoking in public buildings and transport hubs.

This was part of the Netherlands’ wider goal to become smoke-free by 2040, with increasing restrictions on tobacco use in public places.

Advice for Travellers

If you're a smoker and have a flight from Schiphol, it’s best to:

• Smoke before going through security, as there are no facilities once airside

• Allow time before check-in or passport control if you want a final cigarette

• Consider using nicotine gum or patches for longer flights or connections

• Be mindful of local laws, as the Netherlands has strict rules on smoking, especially in non-designated areas

Final Word

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport no longer has a smoking section inside the terminal. Smoking and vaping are only permitted in outdoor areas before security. Once you’re airside, the airport is completely smoke-free, so it’s best to plan ahead if you’re a smoker.