Signage for Schiphol Airport

Client Period

Schiphol / Amsterdam Airport 1991 - ongoing

Mijksenaar has been responsible for signage at Schiphol Airport since 1990. The work includes access routes, parking facilities, buildings and piers. Signs are complemented by maps, a flight-information system, instructions and escape-route signage. Schiphol is seen worldwide as the ultimate in airport signage.

The special project for 2001/2002 is a comprehensive update of signage, a makeover meant to increase the satisfaction of both passengers and airport. As part of the operation, main destinations on the runway side of the airportnow appear only in English, the preferred language of travel. The result is far less signage in this area.

Colors are coupled to certain types of information. Yellow signs provide information on arrivals and departures, for example, while blue signs refer to shopping and restaurant-café facilities, anthracite to waiting areas, and green to escape routes. The escape-route network relies on a unique system of extra large signs, repeated at 50-meter intervals, each of which points to a safe escape route.