Shopping at Schiphol Airport
The Netherlands is a small country within the European Union, yet Amsterdam is one of the most famous places to visit in the world. There are high fashion boutiques in this city, but not as much as Paris or Milan. You can also shop at Schiphol Airport, but there are not many luxury boutiques. They do have Hermes though.
Price comparison tax-free in Schiphol airport vs boutiques in Amsterdam
You can shop duty free at Schiphol airport. Duty free means that the prices are VAT excluded, which can save you time because you don’t need to go through the tax-refund process. Duty free also means that you don’t need to pay the extra fee for the work of processing your tax-refund application. Here’s an example:
Let’s say you want to buy the Twilly in silk, which currently retails for €810 euro (price as per September 2017). Now, let’s compare the prices:
Price Schiphol airport
| Retail Price | €810 euro |
| Airport Tax-free Price | €670 euro |
Price the Netherlands boutiques with VAT-refund
| Retail Price | €810 euro |
| VAT Refund | €90 euro |
| Retail Price – VAT Refund | €720 euro |
The map: before and after passport control
Shopping before passport control
If you haven’t passed the passport control, then you are still in the public area. This area has limited luxury stores. If you want to visit more exclusive stores, you will need to go through the passport control.
Stores before passport control
| KIKO Milano Opening hours: 07:00 – 22:00 | Nespresso Opening hours: After security: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| SuitSupply Opening hours: 07:00 – 22:00 | Victoria’s Secret Opening hours: 07:00 – 22:00 |
Shopping after passport control
After you’ve passed the passport control, you will be able to find stores like Bottega Veneta, Hermes or Burberry very quickly. Check out more stores below.
Stores after passport control
| Bottega Veneta Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Burberry Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| Bvlgari Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Fashion & Travel Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| Gassan Diamonds Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Fine Chocolates Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| Gucci Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Hermès Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| MAC Cosmetics Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Omega Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| Rolex Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight | Swarovski Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |
| Victoria’s Secret Opening hours: Open from 1.5h before first flight until 0.5h before departure last flight |