This is how the bizarre situation at Schiphol really is

After Covid, we have a new fixed topic of conversation that is circulating through all the app groups. How was it at Schiphol for you? Are you taking your suitcases? Do you actually have Privium? And many variations on this theme.

I flew to New York last week but then experienced the unprecedented pleasure of VIP service, where you are taken from a room designed by Marcel Wanders through a private customs to the plane. A rare piece of heaven in a surreal Schiphol.

When we arrived, the taxi driver told us that a new tent had been added where everyone patiently waits their turn. We have the rare luck of having a Privium pass and a smart head who would send my children away. Moreover, I have our dearest Flo from whom we borrowed a special necklace that shows we are dealing with a special person here. By the way, we immediately lost that necklace (evidence 348 that this is indeed a special case and note to lending mother: new cord has been ordered).

We also traveled with hand luggage because I really don't feel like having my suitcase join the other 16,000 waiting. Moreover: what does a person wear at 44 degrees (that was the temperature yesterday in Florence)?

With your Privium pass, you zoom right in and once there, I fell into another amazement. Because as busy as it was outside, it was completely deserted behind customs. Store employees yawned bored, the line at Starbucks had never been so short, and you could walk through the departure hall without bumping into anyone. If there was anyone, they were running (women with their shoes in hand) in the vain hope of still catching their flight.

I walked around with my mouth open. The contrast between the front and back door is too great. I also kept discussing with the staff how it can be that I feel that, apart from those canceled flights, nothing else is happening. Do you ever see a recruitment campaign on Instagram? Or a commercial on TV? I am not the director of Schiphol and it must be an incredibly difficult task, but I have the feeling that Mr. Benschop when it comes to damage control, still needs some tutoring.

Maybe a daily update on Twitter or on your own site with an overview of how many new people have been hired, an update on the onboarding of new people, or a nice photo of fresh Schiphol passes being handed out to new staff. Just a sign that something is happening and that you indicate that this is not normal and you are doing your utmost to change this.

That all the people stand so sweetly in lines and the customs officers calmly and kindly continued their work won my respect. But there is still a lot of room for improvement.

My tips: hand luggage, hand luggage, hand luggage. Or go on vacation by car. Or stay home. It is just as warm in the Netherlands as in Italy.