Inside AmEx’s New Centurion Lounge in Amsterdam
American Express is opening the first credit card lounge at Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport, and its location within the airport makes lounge access more exclusive. Not only will travelers need an eligible travel card to enter, they’ll also need to have a flight leaving the Schengen Area, a travel zone in Europe consisting of 29 countries that have removed routine passport control between their borders.
At just 6,000 square feet — significantly smaller than most of the brand’s other locations — the new space takes a distinctly Dutch approach, with plenty of local artwork, canal-inspired design and a dedicated coffee bar.
The Centurion Lounge is a welcome addition to the relatively limited options at Schiphol, and makes for a comfortable place to stop before a flight. I was invited to preview the lounge before it opens to the public on on September 17, 2026.
The Centurion Lounge is located in the central corridor space between Concourses E and F from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
To enter, passengers will need to show a boarding pass for a flight leaving the Schengen Area. Passengers taking international flights to countries such as the U.S., U.K., China and Morocco will be able to visit. Even if you’re traveling on an American passport and flying from Amsterdam to Paris, you still won’t have access to the lounge.
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You can only enter before a departing flight. You can’t land at an airport with a lounge and head inside (unless it’s a layover or connecting flight).
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There’s a time limit. You can only visit within three hours of the stated departure time on your boarding pass.
Otherwise, cardholders can pay for guest passes. Adult guest passes are $50; children ages 2 through 17 are $30. All guests must be accompanied by a cardholder.
Despite its smaller 6,000-square-foot footprint, the Centurion Lounge feels surprisingly open, thanks to its high ceilings, natural light and three distinct seating areAnas. The first features a coffee and tea bar manned by baristas, along with tables, individual loungers and more intimate booths.
The second room feels more like a living room feel with a couch and accompanying lounge chairs arranged around it.
And the third room is a food and bar area. Between all three rooms, there’s enough variety in the seating to settle in for a longer stay or grab a quick bite before your flight.
The design takes inspiration from Amsterdam throughout, with wood tones, wainscoting-style wall paneling, moodier tones and color-washed walls that represent the changing tides and water levels of the city’s canals. The statement color used throughout is Salamander by Benjamin Moore, a deep mix of black, blue and green.
An oil painting of an American Bulldog that pays homage to 17th-century Dutch culture greets guests as they enter, while the brand’s signature bulldog statue sits on the bar shelves. Fun fact: There’s one placed somewhere in every Centurion Lounge.
The food is buffet-style with a kind of generous spread you’d expect from an AmEx lounge. Beyond a decent selection of ready-made and a make-your-own salad station, there were sweets and cakes, as well as hot dishes including vegetarian lasagna and Italian meatballs.
The menu is expected to change every three weeks, but one Dutch staple will remain: bitterballen, a Dutch comfort food and popular bar snack. The crispy exterior looks like an arancini ball, but the inside is filled with beef ragü – and out of everything I tried, they were my favorite. I also sampled some of the salads, an Amsterdam slider with Dutch pickles, and slaw, truffle mac and cheese, and the meatballs. The offerings are a good mix for international travelers, with Dutch touches worked in where possible. As for drinks, the Blue Roast Coffee Bar also celebrates Amsterdam’s coffee culture, with baristas making everything from teas and flat whites to macchiatos and espressos with locally sourced teas and coffees, each served alongside one of Amsterdam’s famous stroopwafels.
At the bar, there’s a healthy selection of wine and cocktails, plus a noticeable focus on nonalcoholic options, too. Each Centurion Lounge has at least two signature mocktails for guests to choose. The cucumber mint cooler was a real hit.
For those who need to get some work done before their flight, the first room on the right is particularly well suited for opening a laptop, with multiple desk styles and built-in outlets and USB-C ports.
The room furthest to the right also has a small private space called The Phone Room.
Despite its name, there’s no door for private conversations, but it’s a unique nook with a one-of-a-kind dog-patterned wallpaper and two chairs. The light fixture was created by a Dutch designer and 3D-printed from recycled plastic, adding another small local touch to the space.
The bathrooms are where things get a little more compact. All of the stalls are gender-neutral, and there’s no communal wash station; instead, each stall has its own sink. The lounge doesn’t have showers either.
Final thoughts on Schiphol’s AmEx Centurion Lounge
I’ll admit, having visited lounges of a similar size, I was worried it’d feel too crowded or claustrophobic. But to my surprise, it didn’t feel that way at all. Granted, I was moving through the lounge without luggage, but the layout feels intentionally designed to make the most of the space. Amsterdam’s Schiphol is a large and very busy airport, so the limited access based on where you’re flying to will also help with crowd control.
Overall, if you have an eligible credit card, it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s a very well-designed respite with plenty of Dutch character.
