Airport Park at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was officially opened earlier today by Princess Irene, founder and president of the NatuurCollege Foundation, and Maarten de Groof, Executive Vice President and CCO of Schiphol Group.

During the opening, passengers were given a pleasant surprise with a picnic in the park.

Airport Park is an environment where you will find peace and greenery, food outlets and shop kiosks - just as in any city park. Travellers can even step outside to enjoy the sunshine on the terrace. The feeling of being in a park is achieved through mixed reality technology: images of famous parks all over the world are displayed on the walls, while projections of butterflies and the sounds of animals, bicycle bells and playing children further help bring the park to life. Just as in any big city, the Airport Park is a haven of tranquillity. Travellers can relax under the trees on designer chairs upholstered in ivy, or enjoy a drink and a snack on one of the wooden picnic benches. A 130-year-old tree serves as a signpost for everything the park has to offer.

Sustainable applications
The park features a variety of sustainable applications. Travellers can recharge their mobile phones pedalling one of the bicycles that are used to generate energy. LED lighting is used wherever possible and daylight enters the park through tube lighting and fibre optics cables.

Catering outlets and services
Of course no airport park could do without food and beverage outlets and services. Visitors to the park can enjoy fair trade coffee, fresh juices, hamburgers on organic buns and many other delicious snacks at the Park Café. Food and beverages can be taken outside to the terrace or enjoyed in the park. Power points for laptops and other electronic equipment that requires recharging can be found at the edge of the park.

Schiphol: Europe's Preferred Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is keen to be and remain Europe's preferred airport. This means that passengers consciously choose to travel via Schiphol. They do so because Schiphol is much more than simply an airport: it is a dynamic hub where people feel welcome and where different worlds meet, just like in a modern city. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol aims to retain its position as a front runner in order to continue fulfilling this ambition; not only by listening to passengers and responding to their wishes, but also by continuing to inspire and surprise them.

With the innovative Airport Park, a hospitable and inspiring location where people can stay in a pleasant and green environment to relax, eat and drink, Schiphol has taken its ambition one step further once again.

Design
The innovative park concept that combines the original function of a waiting area with a park theme was developed by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The interior was designed by Maurice Mentjens. The opening of the Airport Park has been made possible in part by NatuurCollege.


Visit www.schiphol.nl/airportpark.