Rotterdam The Hague Airport - Spotting Guide

Rotterdam The Hague Airport – Spotting Guide

November 26, 2019 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM/EHRD), previously called Zestienhoven is located just north of the city of Rotterdam. It is the third largest airport in The Netherlands. In 2018 the airport handled almost 1,94 milion passengers. Passenger services includes the following airlines: Transavia, Corendon, TUI, British Airways (LCY), Pegasus Airlines (SAW). It is also used by flying schools, flying clubs and lots of private aircraft. You can also expect some goverment aircraft, visiting the Dutch government in The Hague.

For flight information, visit the airport website: Arrivals and Departures

Written by Bas Velders with photos provided by Cor Mout. Last change: September 2023 (Spot 7 updated).

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
06/24	2.200 m/7,218 ft Asphalt
Terminals	One for all flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Recommended for spots 2, 4, 5, 8 and 11
Car/Public Transport	Recommended, but not necessary as there is a good public transport around the field.
Restrooms	Only at the terminal and spot 3.
Drinks/Food	Only at the terminal and spot 3.
Hotels	There are two located at the airport: World Hotel Wings and Best Western.
Season	We suggest May-October as this is the summertime. It can get very cold during the winter and a lot of fog can come up.
Runway Usage
06/24	Used for arrivals and departures in both directions (depending on the wind).

Bovendijk - Arrivals Rwy 24

WHERE	By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. Pass underneath the runway and park at the parking at the Teugeweg. Walk along the bicyclepath to get your favourite spot. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), cross the road and walk to the Teugeweg along the N471.

WHAT	You only can take pictures of landing aircraft.

TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 14:00.

MISC.	Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks (the terminal is a 10 minute drive).

FOCAL LENGTH	737/BAe146: 150-250 mm, GA: 300-400mm

Crashgate bovendijk - Dep./Arr. Rwy 24

WHERE	By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. Pass underneath the runway and park at the parking at the Teugeweg. The crashgate is the only place to photograph runwayaction. The view is heavily obstructed by fences, construction and other objects, but is is possible. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), cross the road and walk to the Teugeweg along the N471. Note: the spot west of spot 2 (marked with an X on the map) is obstructed with a fence.

WHAT	Best for arriving aircraft runway 24 and taxiway for departing 24. Departures from 06 can be seen as well.

TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 14:00.

MISC.	Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks (the terminal is a 10 minute drive).

FOCAL LENGTH	160-200mm

Brasserie Waalhaven - Arr./Dep. Rwy 06/24

WHERE	Spot 3 is located on top of the restaurant/bar/lounge SPAZIO. The building is modeled after the terminal building of Airport Waalhaven, which existed from 1920 until 1940. NOTE: Always check with the staff if it is okay to spot on top. It is not always possible due to events. By car: To get there follow signs towards ‘Lang parkeren’/’Long stay parking’ (Parking P10). Then go onto the Brandenburglaan. You can park on the parking area of the restaurant. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at Lutonbaan.

WHAT	All runway movements.

TIME	They are very kind on receiving spotters on the top deck. Same rules aply, so before going upstairs, please ask the staff and even better, to support them; take a drink, snack or a meal.

MISC.	Everything you need is inside the building.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-200mm

Brandenburgbaan - Dep. Rwy 24/Platform

WHERE	By car: To get there follow signs towards ‘Lang parkeren’/’Long stay parking’ (Parking P10). Then go onto the Brandenburglaan. You can park on the parking area of the restaurant (Spot 3). By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at Lutonbaan.

WHAT	All platform movements and departures rwy 24.

TIME	From early mornings until ~12.00

MISC.	There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence but there also one photo hole in the fence!

FOCAL LENGTH	Platform: 160-250mm, takeoffs rwy 24: 300-350mm

Fairoaksbaan - General Aviation Apron

WHERE	There are various spots at the General Aviation area.

WHAT	General aviation traffic.

TIME	All day long (depending on the spot).

MISC.	There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm (depending on the spot).

Airport Restaurant 'Grandcafe De Horizon' Terrace - Platform

WHERE	Spot #6 is located at the airport restaurant. At the airport, go to the first floor (stairs in the middle of the terminal). For more information: https://dehorizonrotterdam.nl/. The terrace is fenced by glass, so taking pictures can be difficult (if you are tall enough, you may be able to take photos over it). By car: Follow signs to the airport. You can park your car at the short stay parking (P2). By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the airport terminal.

WHAT	All platform movements.

TIME	The best time is from 14:00 until sunset. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (depending on the last departing flight). NOTE: the restaurant and/or the viewing area is not always open due to events.

MISC.	Everything you need is in the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

Rotterdamsche Aeroclub - Platform

WHERE	Just next to the airport terminal is the Rotterdamsche Aeroclub. Alongside the fence you can see all platform movements. You can park your car at the short stay parking (P2). ~~NOTE: this spot is closed due to a temporary terminal building.~~ Update September 2023: building has been removed and this spot is available again

WHAT	All platform movements.

TIME	The best time is from 14:00 until sunset.

MISC.	Everything you need is in the terminal. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	Platform: 24-200mm

Arlandabaan - Arrivals Rwy 06

WHERE	By car: From the A13, follow signs to the airport (go right on the Vliegveldweg, go left on the Rotterdam Airportbaan). Then go left before the petrol station on the Zaventembaan. You can park your car on the spot. You can also stand on the nearby long term parking to photograph the arrivals. (P3) but you have to shoot between the lightpoles. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg.

WHAT	Arrivals runway 06 and the general aviation platform.

TIME	The best time is from sunrise till 14:00.

MISC.	There is nothing here. A small two step ladder is helpful to photograph over the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm 738/A320=130mm

Achterdijk - Arrivals Rwy 06

WHERE	By car: From the A13, follow signs to the airport (go right on the Vliegveldweg), Then go right to the Best Western hotel and turn onto the Achterdijk. Park near the hotel and walk onto the Achterdijk or continue on the small road till the small park at Otterdijk (see photo below). By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg.

WHAT	Arrivals runway 06 and the general aviation platform.

TIME	Best time is in wintertime from 1300 till sunset and summertime from 1400 till sunset. And GA platform also best for those times.

MISC.	There is nothing here.

FOCAL LENGTH	Arriving aircraft: 80-150mm, GA platform: 300-400mm.

Doenkade/Schieveensedijk - Arrivals Rwy 06

WHERE	By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the carpool-parking. Go left onto the Schieveensedijk and park your car. For arrivals, you can stay near the carpool-parking or cross the road to the crash gate. Departure shots are tricky/not possible due to a second fence on the other side of the ditch. By public transport: From Metrostation Meijersplein/Airport (connections to Rotterdam and The Hague), take busline 33 toward the airport. Get off at the Vliegveldweg. Walk along the bicycle path to spot #10 (approx. 10 minutes).

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 06.

TIME	The best time is from 17.00 until sunset.

MISC.	There is nothing here.

FOCAL LENGTH	735=140mm; ERJ=160mm

Spottersplek Doenkade - Arr./Dep. Rwy 24

WHERE	By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. Park you car near the spot. By foot: From spot #1 it is a 15 minute walk. Follow the bicycle path until you reach the Langscheiding road.

WHAT	Arrivals and departures rwy 24.

TIME	The best time is from 17.00 until sunset.

MISC.	There is nothing here. The airport placed ‘spottersholes’ in the fence, a step ladder is not necessary anymore to clear the fence. The holes are a bit high around 1,6m

FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

Landscheiding - Arrivals Rwy 24

WHERE	By car: From the A13, drive onto the Doenkade (N209) towards the airport. Drive alongside the runway until you can turn right onto Landscheiding. After 800 meter there is a road towards a crash gate. Park your car here. By foot: From spot #1 it is a 25 minute walk. Follow the bicycle path until you reach the Langscheiding road. Then follow the road for 800 meters.

WHAT	Arrivals rwy 24.

TIME	The best time is from 17.00 until sunset.

MISC.	There is nothing here.

FOCAL LENGTH	200-300mm

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Cor Mout

1 year ago

at point #10 is a lot of construction work for the new A16 highway extension. It is now not possible anymore to reach this point by car. Advise to park your car at the nearby carpool parkingplace beind the traffic lights.

Cor Mout

1 year ago

At #2 the crashgate just before the holding point for the V6 entry to RWY 24 the view on the taxi track is now clear. Only aircraft are not visible when approaching this point. You see them at the last moment when they apear behind the earth wall. Still stairs are better but trough the fence is also possible with small diameter lens.

Cor Mout

1 year ago

At point #5 beware that at the Erasmus catering an Fairoaksbaan side they recently put electric security wiring at the fence on top and on the airside part of the fence. Photography is still possible but beware where you touch the fence. Better is to take some stairs and take pics trough the wires at some distance and don’t touch it all.

Pascal Woudenberg

2 years ago

Just a heads-up, on spot 11, the spottershole is a bit high. I’m 1.80m and have to stand on my toes to reach it properly 😉

Julian

Admin

Reply to Pascal Woudenberg

2 years ago

Good to know, thanks for the hint.
-Julian

Cor Mout

2 years ago

At spot 8 you can also stand on the long term parking. (P3). You have to shoot between the lightpoles but in the morning a very useful spot.

Cor Mout

2 years ago

At spot 3 the restaurant has new owners, but they are still very kind on receiving spotters on the top deck. Same rules aply, so before going upstairs, please ask the staff and even better, to support them; take a drink, snack or a meal. New name is Spazio. (https://spaziorestaurant.nl/).

Pascal Woudenberg

2 years ago

There’s a phone-hole in the fence at spot 4 (Brandenburgbaan)

Julian

Admin

Reply to Pascal Woudenberg

2 years ago

It has been noted. Thanks for the info Pascal!
-Julian

Cor Mout

5 years ago

Runway usage is not correct. 06-24 is the Runway at Rotterdam. And many thnx for this guide from my hometown airport. I also have a photoblog for many years now. I put a link to this guide at my blog. If that is allright with you.