Claim: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol serves as a European hub.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol -LRB- Luchthaven Schiphol , -LSB- ˈlʏxtˌɦaːvə -LRB- n -RRB- ˌsxɪpˈɦɔl -RSB- -RRB- is the main international airport of the Netherlands , located 9 km southwest of Amsterdam , in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer , province of North Holland . It is the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of passengers . The airport is built as a single-terminal concept : one large terminal split into three large departure halls .   Schiphol is the hub for KLM and its regional affiliate KLM Cityhopper as well as for Corendon Dutch Airlines , Martinair , Transavia and TUI fly Netherlands . The airport also serves as a European hub for Delta Air Lines and Jet Airways and as a base for EasyJet and Vueling .   Schiphol opened on 16 September 1916 as a military airbase . The end of the First World War also saw the beginning of civilian use of Schiphol Airport and the airport eventually lost its military role completely . By 1940 , Schiphol had four asphalt runways at 45-degree angles . The airport was captured by the German military that same year and renamed Fliegerhorst Schiphol . The airport was destroyed through bombing but at the end of the war the airfield was restored quickly . In 1949 , it was decided that Schiphol was to become the primary airport of the Netherlands . The airport 's official English name , Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , reflects the original Dutch word order -LRB- Luchthaven Schiphol -RRB- .