What time should you leave for the airport?
Plan to arrive at the airport around 2 hours before a European flight and 3 hours before an intercontinental flight, unless your airline or airport advises otherwise. Pick-up time = flight departure minus airport arrival allowance, driving time and a traffic buffer. Those 2–3 hours refer to arrival at the airport, not pick-up at home.
Work backwards in four steps
- Be at the airport 2 hours before a European flight, 3 hours for long-haul.
- Subtract the driving time from your address, as calculated for your route.
- Add 30 minutes if you travel between 06:00–09:00 or 16:00–19:00.
- Add 15–30 minutes if you travel with children, a group or lots of luggage.
Worked examples
| From | Flight departs | Driving time | Leave at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 08:00 (Europe) | 30 min | 05:15 |
| Utrecht | 08:00 (Europe) | 45 min | 05:00 |
| Rotterdam | 11:00 (long-haul) | 60 min | 07:00 |
| Eindhoven | 07:00 (Europe) | 90 min | 03:15 |
What not to cut
Do not shave the margin because you have hand luggage only; security queues vary far more than check-in does. Do not assume an empty motorway at 05:00 either — the road to Schiphol fills up early, and roadworks are common at night.
When you book with us, tell us the flight time and we will suggest a departure that already includes these margins.
How booking a taxi with Taxiritje.nl works
Prices are based on the actual road distance in kilometres between your pickup address and your destination, so you always know the amount before you book. Payment is online by card or iDEAL, and you receive a confirmation by email with the driver details, the pickup time and an invoice with VAT for business trips.
You book online in a few steps. Enter your pickup address with house number and postcode, add your destination and choose the date and time. The price you see is the price you pay: it already includes luggage, tolls, parking at the airport and waiting time, so there is no meter running during the journey and no surcharge at night or at the weekend.
Reservations are possible up to three hours before pickup, and you can book a one-way trip or a return in the same booking. For flights you enter your flight number; we then follow the actual landing time and include up to 80 minutes of free waiting time at the airport. For a pickup at a home or hotel address we include 15 minutes.
- Fixed price per journey, confirmed by email before the driver is assigned.
- Sedan or estate car for 1-4 passengers, minibus for 5-8 passengers.
- Extra stops along the way can be added while booking.
- Changes and cancellations online up to 24 hours before pickup; call 085 060 7086 within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I be at Schiphol?
Is a night departure risky?
Read more and arrange your trip
About the author
Taxiritje.nl editorial team · Planning and customer service
The editorial team consists of staff from planning and customer service at Taxiritje.nl. They write based on the rides scheduled every day and the questions customers ask about departure times, luggage, prices and bookings.
Related articles
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- What does a taxi from Schiphol to Rotterdam city centre cost? — Airport travel
- Can you agree on a fixed price for a taxi to Schiphol in advance? — Airport travel
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