Citizens, simple farmers ... and celebrities: Famous faces at Schiphol
On 19 October 2011 at Schiphol, we welcomed our one billionth passenger since 1920. That is quite an accomplishment. These visitors have included many celebrities.
The 1940s
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1946
Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives at Schiphol on 8 May 1946. Seen by many as a hero of the Second World War, Churchill finds a rapturous welcome in the Netherlands as hundreds of thousands of people cheer him all the way to Amsterdam. During his stay, together with Queen Wilhelmina, he takes a boat tour of the damaged port area.
© Photo: National Archives
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1948
Fanny Blankers Koen makes history in 1948 when she wins four gold medals at the Olympic Games in London. The ‘Flying Dutchmam’s’ victories include the 100- and 200-metre races. The brand-new champion waits at the airport in London for her plane to Schiphol.
© Photo: National Archives
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1949
By November 1949, the Netherlands has been at war with Sukarno’s republican army in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) for almost four years. Sukarno’s right-hand man, Mohammed Hatta, comes to the Netherlands to negotiate the colony’s independence. When the negotiations are concluded, the Indonesian leader departs Schiphol for Jakarta on ‘The Flying Dutchman’. Six weeks after Hatta’s visit, the Republic of Indonesia is officially declared a sovereign state.
© Photo: Nationaal Archives
The 1950s
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1951
In 1951 the Netherlands welcomes renowned American movie producer Walt Disney. After landing at Schiphol, the creative father of Mickey Mouse immediately holds a press conference at the airport. He introduces his family, who are here on holiday, and he is keen to visit the studios where they make all the Dutch versions of Disney films.
© Photo: National Archives
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1955
Schiphol is a hive of activity in 1955 for the arrival of American actor and singer Danny Kaye, whose film credits include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947). He is touring several countries to talk about a short film, made by the United Nations, in which he was involved.
© Photo: National Archives
The 1960s
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1960
The Bolshoi Ballet comes to the Netherlands for the first time in 1960. This is surprising, because this prestigious dance company only started performing outside the Soviet Union in 1956. Before that time, the internationally famous ballet group was largely only to be seen in Moscow, behind the Iron Curtain. The Russian ballerinas find a very warm welcome at Schiphol.
© Photo: National Archives
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1964
On 5 June 1964, The Beatles land at Schiphol to a waiting crowd of more than 3,000 fans. Each band member receives flowers, cheese, a herring and a classic Volendam hat. Eventually some members of the press find their way through the security fence, causing chaos, and The Beatles are spirited away as fast as possible.
© Photo: National Archives
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1964
On 16 August 1964, Martin Luther King and his wife arrive at Schiphol. It cannot be said that the world-famous preacher receives a warm welcome: there isn’t even anyone there to pick him up from the airport! The next day, King gives a press conference at Schiphol in which he calls for full voting rights for all African Americans.
© Photo: National Archives
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1966
American singing duo Sonny and Cher gain international fame in 1965, and in September 1966 the couple come to the Netherlands as part of their world tour. Two months later, their hit ‘Little Man’ takes the number 1 spot in the Netherlands’ Veronica Top 40. Cher also has a solo hit in the same year with ‘Bang’.
© Photo: National Archives
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1967
Dutchwoman Yvonne Paul receives international attention for setting a new record: she spends 80 days in a departure hall at Schiphol, sleeping on a bench. Paul wants to go to the United States, but she has been denied a visa for reasons of ‘mental illness’. She protests the decision by refusing to leave Schiphol, until after three months the police remove her from the airport.
© Photo: National Archives
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1968
The Dutch Olympians beam enthusiastically at the photographer, before beginning their long flight to Mexico. The trip will prove to be worth any discomfort experienced in transit: athletes such as cyclist Joop Zoetemelk and swimmer Ada Kok win gold medals at these Olympic Games. The team bring home a total of seven medals to the Netherlands.
© Photo: National Archives
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1969
John Lennon and Yoko Ono wait for their flight at Schiphol after spending a week in Amsterdam on their honeymoon. Their stay at the Hilton hotel is known as the ‘Bed-In’; In these troubled times, during the Vietnam War, Lennon and Ono spend the entire week in their hotel room to promote world peace.
© Photo: National Archives
The 1970s
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1971
Emperor Hirohito (middle) of Japan makes a state visit to the Netherlands in 1971. His visit carries a lot of political and emotional baggage. Tens of thousands of Dutch people and hundreds of thousands of Indonesians were imprisoned in internment and prisoner-of-war camps during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) between 1942 and 1945. Many of them died. Many people see Hirohito as a war criminal and there are vociferous protests against the state visit. Cabaret performer and former prisoner Wim Kan describes the visit as a disgrace. The Dutch government maintains that the emperor is welcome.
© Photo: National Archives
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1973
Greek opera singer Maria Callas comes to Amsterdam on her farewell tour to mark the close of her career. She arrives at Schiphol together with tenor Giuseppe di Stefano. Callas will delight concertgoers one last time in the Concertgebouw.
© Photo: National Archives
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1973
In 1973, Johan Cruyff leaves Amsterdam football team Ajax to join FC Barcelona. The Catalans pay six million guilders for the footballer, making Cruyff the most expensive player in history. He and his wife Danny depart Schiphol for Spain, where he will be welcomed as ‘El Salvador’: the saviour.
© Photo: National Archives
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1973
Footballers Johan Cruyff and Barry Hulshoff proudly show off the European Cup to the press gathered at Schiphol after Ajax beat Juventus in the final at the Red Star stadium in Belgrade. Because this is the third time in a row that the Amsterdam team has won the European Cup I, the team is allowed to keep the trophy permanently in Amsterdam.
© Photo: National Archives
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1975
Start spreading the news: Frank Sinatra is giving a concert in Amsterdam. Fans of The Voice have to shell out 250 guilders for a ticket, though this is of course no obstacle for his die-hard fans. The Concertgebouw is sold out well in advance of the performance. Surrounded by well-wishers, Sinatra leaves Schiphol to head to the venue.
© Photo: National Archives
The 1980s
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1980
The great Ella Fitzgerald comes to the Netherlands in 1980 to give a concert. A Schiphol staff member conducts the now-62-year-old American jazz singer to her car via Pier B.
© Photo: National Archives
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1985
Pope John Paul II is the first Pope to honour the Netherlands with a visit. Unfortunately, he does not receive an enthusiastic welcome, as the papal visit is marked by loud protests by groups calling for the emancipation of women and gay people. Despite the protests, at Schiphol the Pope shares a cheerful smile with the thousands of believers who come to wave him off.
© Photo: National Archives
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1989
In July 1989, President George Bush and his wife Barbara pay a short visit to the Netherlands. He gives a speech at the Pieterskerk (St Peter’s church) in Leiden about political relations between East and West. The president stresses that, after 45 years of Cold War, the relationship between the West and the Soviet Union is greatly improved. It is only a few months later that the Berlin Wall comes down.
© Photo: National Archives
The 2000s
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De jaren 00
2005
Most Dutch people may not recognise him, but Shah Rukh Khan is one of the world’s biggest film stars. The Indian actor has appeared in more than 80 Bollywood films and is known as the King of Bollywood. Dozens of frenzied fans wait for him at Schiphol.
© Photo: Schiphol