Trains are down in the Netherlands because of snow — how do I get to Schiphol?
By road, and with extra time: on January 6, 2026, NS stopped its trains for part of the day because of snow and frozen switches, during a week in which the weather service warned of dangerous travel conditions. Check that your flight is still operating, then book a car early: from your Amsterdam address to the airport it costs a fixed €80 in Business Class, whatever the weather does to the drive.
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Any Amsterdam address → Schiphol: fixed prices
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €80 | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €85 | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €90 | S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Mercedes-Maybach (Ultra), Amsterdam address → Schiphol | €225 | Maybach S-Class · up to 2 passengers, 2 bags · confirmed by dispatch, not instant |
The price is fixed at booking, however slow the roads are. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup, 10% is added: €88 in Business Class. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
The January 2026 winter week
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 2–9 | Snow and ice across much of the country; code orange warnings for dangerous travel conditions |
| January 5 | About 450 flights canceled at Schiphol, part of several days of cancellations |
| January 6 | NS trains temporarily stopped after snow and frozen switches; service resumed later that day |
Wikipedia, “2026 in the Netherlands”, citing Dutch news reports, checked September 29, 2026.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
On a snow day with no trains
- Check the flight first. Snow that stops trains often cancels flights too; your airline’s app is the first place to look.
- Book the car early. Everyone who planned to take the train needs another way at the same time.
- Leave earlier than usual. On a clear road Central Station to Schiphol is about 29 minutes; in snow, allow more.
- Stay in touch. You have the chauffeur’s number; message if your flight status changes while you are on the way.
Related questions
How much earlier should I leave?
We have no measured snow-day times, so we won’t give a number. Leave well ahead of your usual time and let the chauffeur propose the pickup; for a US flight, still plan to be at the airport about three hours before departure.
Will a car be available on the day?
Dispatch works around the clock, but when the trains stop, demand for cars jumps at once. Book as soon as you know, and message dispatch on WhatsApp if the time is short; we confirm before you rely on it.
What if my flight is canceled after I reach Schiphol?
Your airline owes you care under EU rules, including a hotel and transport if you are rebooked for the next day; see a canceled flight and a hotel for the night.
Is it safe to drive in the snow?
See driving to Schiphol in snow for what the weather warnings mean and how a pickup is planned around them.
Sources
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.