Which Schiphol runways are used in which wind, which towns lie under each approach and departure path, and what Schiphol says it does about noise, with every claim sourced.
By AeroGaze · November 7, 2026 · 9 min read
AeroGaze's Schiphol flight-path guide explains which runways Schiphol uses in which wind and which towns lie under each one. In a northerly wind Schiphol uses the Polderbaan for take-offs and the Kaagbaan for landings; the pairing reverses in a southerly wind. Schiphol prefers those two runways because their routes cross less densely populated areas. Use the live flight tracker for what is in use right now.
Whether planes pass over your street depends mostly on which Schiphol runway is in use, and that depends largely on the wind. This guide pulls together what Schiphol says on its neighbour pages: which runway combinations are used in which wind, which towns lie under the approach and departure paths of each of the six runways, and what Schiphol says it does to limit noise. It adds a way to read today's wind against the runways. Everything was checked on 7 November 2026 against the Schiphol pages linked at the end. Routes and rules change, so for what is happening right now use the live tools below.
Schiphol always uses a combination of runways for take-offs and landings. Which combination depends on safety, visibility, wind and weather, and environmental regulations. Where safety and weather allow, Schiphol and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands prefer the Kaagbaan (06/24) for landings and the Polderbaan (18R/36L) for take-offs, because the routes to and from them take aircraft over less densely populated areas.
In a northerly wind the Polderbaan is used for take-offs and the Kaagbaan for landings. The Zwanenburgbaan (18C/36C) joins in during the peak take-off period, and the Aalsmeerbaan (18L/36R) during the peak landing period.
In a southerly wind the pairing is reversed: take-offs from the Kaagbaan and landings on the Polderbaan, with the Aalsmeerbaan in the peak take-off period and the Zwanenburgbaan in the peak landing period. In off-peak hours Schiphol tries to use just two runways.
With a westerly wind the Buitenveldertbaan (09/27) is used for landings, and with an easterly wind it is used for departures. In stormy south-westerly winds the Schiphol-Oostbaan (04/22) can also be used for aircraft approaching from the north-east.
Put the two halves together and you can reason about your own street. First work out which way the wind is blowing, then read off the runway pairing Schiphol describes for that wind, then look up your town in the runway sections below.
AeroGaze's Schiphol page draws the six runways to scale and shows today's wind against every runway end, so the first step takes a few seconds. Treat the result as a clue, not a forecast: Schiphol says the choice also depends on safety, visibility and environmental regulations, and air traffic control makes the call. To see what is actually in use, open the Local Community Contact Centre's flight tracker or the BezoekBAS app.
The six sections below summarise Schiphol's own list of routes. Aircraft approach over the places named for landings and climb over the places named after take-off, and departures then turn onto their destination. Schiphol's page lists more towns than fit here, so use the link at the end for the full text.
Aircraft coming from the North Sea to land on the Kaagbaan circle over Katwijk, Noordwijk and Oegstgeest and follow the A4 motorway, descending at Abbenes and Nieuw-Vennep. Planes from the east approach over Amsterdam and Hoofddorp, and those from the south-west over Leiden.
Departures leave towards Nieuw-Vennep, head west towards Kaag and Sassenheim, and climb over Katwijk or Noordwijkerhout before turning north-east (between Hoofddorp and Vennep, towards Spaarnwoude) or south (over Leimuiden, then Nieuwkoop or south of Mijdrecht).
By day, aircraft landing on the Polderbaan arrive either from the east or from the North Sea. Flights from the east cross the Markermeer above Volendam, turn above Krommenie and fly straight to the runway. From the North Sea they cross the dunes between Wijk aan Zee and Egmond, turn over Uitgeest and descend above the A9, Spaarndam and Haarlemmerliede, landing next to Vijfhuizen. At night, landing aircraft approach from the east over the Markermeer, via Hoorn and Heerhugowaard to the North Sea, then follow a fixed path between Limmen and Castricum and north of Uitgeest.
Departures climb over Haarlemmerliede and Spaarndam, then turn north-west over Velsen and IJmuiden or Wijk aan Zee, north-east above Uitgeest and Beemster towards Hoorn, east above Wormerveer and Zaandijk, or south above Amsterdam West and Amstelveen.
Landings from the south come from the east (over Weesp, De Ronde Venen and Woerden) or the south-west (over Katwijk, Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn), turn above Bodegraven-Reeuwijk and Nieuwkoop, then descend over Uithoorn and Aalsmeer.
Departures climb over Aalsmeer and Uithoorn. Eastbound flights turn towards De Ronde Venen and then over Wijdemeren or Weesp; southbound flights go over Nieuwkoop, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk and Woerden.
Landings from the north approach from the east above the Beemster and Graftdijk, turn south between the Alkmaardermeer and Wormerveer, and descend over Krommenie, Assendelft, Halfweg and Zwanenburg. Landings from the south almost always come from the North Sea over the area between The Hague and the Maasvlakte, pass south of Zoetermeer, then head north and descend above Zwammerdam and Aarlanderveen and via the Westeinder Plassen and Aalsmeer.
Departures to the north climb over Zwanenburg and Halfweg; eastbound planes then fly over Zaandam and the IJmeer, and southbound flights circle above Amsterdam West, Amstelveen and Uithoorn. Departures to the south pass Rijsenhout and Abbenes, or turn over Hoofddorp and Vijfhuizen towards Zaanstad and Hoorn, or continue over the Westeinder Plassen and Kudelstaart towards Nieuwkoop, Bodegraven or De Ronde Venen.
Aircraft landing on the Buitenveldertbaan approach above Almere and Muiden and descend over Bijlmermeer, Amstelveen North and the Amsterdamse Bos before landing.
Departures climb over Buitenveldert, then turn north above Diemen and the IJmeer, east over Amsterdam South East and Wijdemeren, south-east, south or south-west above Amstelveen, Uithoorn, Mijdrecht, De Ronde Venen and Leidsche Rijn, or north-west above Amsterdam West, Spaarnwoude and IJmuiden.
The Oostbaan is mainly used for general aviation, private jets and helicopters. In a south-westerly storm, commercial aircraft may land on it too. Approaches from the direction of Volendam and Monnickendam then fly fairly low over Amsterdam North and the city centre, and descend over Oud-Zuid and the Nieuwe Meer.
Departures take off north-east and then turn east over Amstelveen, Amsterdam South East and Bussum, south above Amstelveen, Uithoorn and Mijdrecht, west towards IJmuiden, north over Amsterdam West and Zaandam, or north-east over Diemen and the IJmeer.
Schiphol's own explanation is simple: as soon as an aircraft's engines are running they make noise, and the closer you are, the louder it is. Whether it bothers you depends on which runways are used at what time of day, on the weather, and on the type of aircraft that flies over. That is why the same street can be quiet for days and busy on the next wind change.
Schiphol and air traffic control say they schedule take-offs, landings and flight paths to reduce noise where safety and weather permit, which is the Kaagbaan and Polderbaan preference above. Air traffic control has adjusted several departure routes to cut the time aircraft spend above built-up areas. Special procedures apply to night flights between 23:00 and 06:00, and wherever possible aircraft approach in a glide and avoid fully using reverse thrust to help brake. Noise-reflecting ridges at the Polderbaan (18R/36L) and Zwanenburgbaan (18C/36C) have reduced ground noise.
Since April 2025 new airport charges have made night flights roughly one and a half to two times more expensive, especially for the noisiest aircraft. Schiphol says the share of aircraft in the quietest categories rose from 20 percent (July to September 2024) to 30 percent (the same months a year later), and that by 2027 the loudest aircraft at night will cost about seven times what they did in 2024. A full night closure has not been introduced: Schiphol says the government decided against it, partly because of European rules. These are Schiphol's own figures and claims, and AeroGaze has not verified them independently.
Schiphol's Local Community Contact Centre (BAS, Bewoners Aanspreekpunt Schiphol) takes questions about air traffic and runway use, and it is also where you report nuisance. Its flight tracker shows live air traffic and which runways are in use, and the BezoekBAS app does the same on a phone. Runway maintenance, which closes runways for a time and changes the pattern, is listed on a separate Schiphol page.
Every fact about runway use, routes and noise measures comes from Schiphol's own neighbour pages, read on 7 November 2026. AeroGaze is an independent site, is not affiliated with Schiphol, and cannot see or predict air traffic control decisions.
Preferred runways: Kaagbaan (06/24) for landings, Polderbaan (18R/36L) for take-offs
Northerly wind: Take-offs Polderbaan, landings Kaagbaan
Southerly wind: Take-offs Kaagbaan, landings Polderbaan
Westerly / easterly wind: Buitenveldertbaan (09/27) used for landings / departures
South-westerly storm: Oostbaan (04/22) can take landings from the north-east
Night procedures: Special procedures 23:00–06:00
Live runway use: BAS flight tracker or BezoekBAS app
Checked: 7 November 2026, from Schiphol's own pages
Schiphol says that in a northerly wind it uses the Polderbaan for take-offs and the Kaagbaan for landings, and reverses the pairing in a southerly wind. With a westerly wind the Buitenveldertbaan is used for landings and with an easterly wind for departures. The exact combination also depends on safety, visibility and environmental rules.
Schiphol says the flight paths to and from these two runways take aircraft over less densely populated areas, so it prefers the Kaagbaan for landings and the Polderbaan for take-offs where safety and weather permit.
Not reliably. Wind shows which runway ends face into the wind, and AeroGaze's Schiphol page draws that, but air traffic control decides the runway plan and also weighs safety, visibility and noise rules. For what is in use now, use the BAS flight tracker or the BezoekBAS app.
No. Schiphol says the government decided, partly because of European regulations, not to introduce one. Special procedures apply between 23:00 and 06:00, and charges for night flights, especially by noisy aircraft, have risen since April 2025.
Schiphol points to its Local Community Contact Centre (BAS), which handles questions about air traffic and runway use and is where you can report nuisance.
Per Schiphol, landing aircraft by day approach over Uitgeest, Spaarndam, Haarlemmerliede and Vijfhuizen, or over Krommenie from the east. Departures climb over Haarlemmerliede and Spaarndam and then turn over places such as Velsen, IJmuiden, Wijk aan Zee, Uitgeest, Zaandijk, Amsterdam West and Amstelveen.