Bottom Line Up Front: American Express is opening its 29th Centurion Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 2026, making it the first credit card company to operate a premium lounge at Europe's fourth-busiest airport. While the 6,000-square-foot space will be smaller than most US locations, it promises authentic Dutch design elements and could be a game-changer for travelers connecting through this major European hub.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is about to get a major upgrade for American Express cardholders. Amex just announced plans to open a new Centurion Lounge between Concourses E and F in 2026, bringing their signature premium lounge experience to one of Europe's busiest travel hubs.

This is big news for anyone who travels through Amsterdam regularly – and with over 67 million passengers passing through Schiphol in 2024, that's a lot of potential lounge visitors. Here's everything you need to know about this exciting addition to the Centurion Lounge network.

What Makes This Amsterdam Lounge Special

The upcoming Amsterdam Centurion Lounge isn't just another airport lounge – it's being designed specifically to celebrate Dutch culture and heritage. The space will feature a Dutch-inspired design with art from local artists, floor-to-ceiling windows offering abundant natural light, and locally inspired food and beverage menus.

The design concept is particularly thoughtful. The lounge will have "a rich palette of blues, greens and earth tones that evokes Amsterdam's famous waterways and tranquility, while the lines, proportion and repetition represent the iconic canal houses of the city".

The Star Feature: A Dutch Coffee Bar

Here's what really caught our attention: Amex will offer a specially designed coffee bar that plays to the importance of coffee in Dutch culture and social gatherings. This isn't just about serving good coffee – it's about creating that uniquely Dutch concept of "gezellig," which roughly translates to a cozy, convivial atmosphere.

The coffee bar will pay homage to the drink's importance in Dutch culture as a ritual to unwind and connect with one another, contributing to the Lounge's overall feeling of "gezellig". For anyone who's spent time in Amsterdam, you know how central coffee culture is to daily life there.

Size and Location Details

Let's be honest about one potential downside: this lounge is going to be packed. At just under 6,000 square feet, this will be one of the smallest lounges in the network, and demand will likely be huge given that AMS is the fourth-busiest airport in Europe.

To put that in perspective, the Centurion Lounge in Seattle is 4,500 square feet, while Philadelphia's spans 6,300 square feet. So Amsterdam falls right in the middle of that range – not tiny, but definitely on the compact side for such a busy airport.

The lounge will be located between Concourses E and F, which primarily serves flights leaving the Schengen Zone. This means you'll find airlines like KLM, Delta, China Airlines, and EVA Air using this area.

Standard Centurion Amenities Plus Local Touches

Despite the smaller footprint, you can expect all the standard Centurion Lounge amenities that make these spaces so appealing:

• Premium food and beverages: Locally inspired menus showcasing Dutch cuisine
• Full-service bar: Craft cocktails and local beer selections
• Dedicated workstations: With charging ports and high-speed Wi-Fi
• Multiple seating areas: From comfortable lounge chairs to business-focused work zones
• Local artwork: Featuring pieces from Dutch artists

The lounge will feature a selection of amenities designed to cater to the needs of high-end travelers, including high-quality meals and beverages crafted to provide both nourishment and indulgence, comfortable seating areas designed for relaxation, and dedicated workspaces equipped with charging ports and high-speed WiFi.

How to Get Access

Access to the Amsterdam Centurion Lounge follows the same rules as other locations in the network. You'll need one of these American Express cards to get in:

Primary Access Cards

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: The gold standard for lounge access
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Same benefits for business travelers
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: But only when flying Delta and booking with the card
• Centurion® Card from American Express: The invite-only black card

Guest Policy Changes You Need to Know

Here's where things get expensive if you travel with companions. Since February 2023, Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders must pay $50 per adult guest (up to two allowed) or $30 for each child aged 2-17, unless you spend $75,000 on your card in a calendar year.

If you hit that $75,000 spending threshold, you get complimentary guest access for the rest of that year, the entire following year, and through January 31 of the third year. For most people, though, you're looking at guest fees.

Why Amsterdam Makes Perfect Sense

American Express Travel President Audrey Hendley said a "large number" of American Express Card members travel through Schiphol every year, making it a logical place to add a lounge. The numbers back this up – Amex says over 600,000 of its cardholders pass through the airport annually.

Amsterdam Schiphol serves as a major European hub, particularly for SkyTeam alliance flights through KLM. It's also Delta's primary European gateway, which makes sense given that American Express partners with Delta on credit cards. If you're trying to decide between Delta and Amex cards, check out our comparison of Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve.

The timing couldn't be better either. The airport currently has limited lounge options, with just two Priority Pass lounges that are Aspire branded. The existing KLM Crown Lounge is impressive but can get crowded, and the oneworld Lounge, while decent, doesn't match Centurion standards.

The Bigger Picture: Centurion Network Expansion

The Amsterdam lounge is part of a broader expansion of the Centurion network. Amex has upcoming lounge openings in Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND), with Newark opening in 2026 and the other two expected in 2025.

This aggressive expansion shows how valuable these lounges are for American Express in attracting and retaining premium cardholders. For a complete overview of the American Express lounge network, check out our ultimate guide to American Express lounge access.

Is It Worth Getting an Amex Card for This?

If you're a frequent traveler through Amsterdam, the answer is probably yes – especially if you can maximize the other benefits of cards like the Platinum. The Amex Platinum offers much more than just lounge access, including:

• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines
• $200 annual airline fee credit
• $200 annual hotel credit
• Elite status with Hilton and Marriott
• Access to over 1,400 lounges worldwide through the Global Lounge Collection

For business travelers, the Business Platinum can be even more valuable with its 1.5x points multiplier on purchases over $5,000.

When Can You Visit?

The Amsterdam Centurion Lounge is expected to open in 2026, though American Express hasn't announced a specific date yet. Given the construction timeline and airport approvals needed, we'd expect an opening sometime in the second half of 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Amsterdam Centurion Lounge represents a smart strategic move by American Express. While the space will be smaller than many US locations, the combination of authentic Dutch design elements, that special coffee bar, and Centurion's signature service standards should create something truly special.

Yes, it'll probably be crowded given Amsterdam's status as a major hub and the limited lounge options at Schiphol. But for American Express cardholders who regularly connect through Amsterdam, having access to a premium space with locally inspired food and that uniquely Dutch sense of "gezellig" will make those layovers much more enjoyable.

If you don't already have an Amex card that offers Centurion access, this might be the perfect excuse to consider one. Just remember to factor in those guest fees if you typically travel with companions – unless you're planning to hit that $75,000 spending threshold for complimentary guest access.

Ready to get Centurion Lounge access? Check out our guides to the best credit cards for airport lounge access and learn more about the benefits of Amex Platinum. You can also read our detailed Amex Platinum card review and discover more about American Express Centurion Lounges.