KLM Non-Schengen Amsterdam Lounge
KLM has opened the first section of it's brand new Amsterdam's Schiphol airport Crown Lounge. The tiered plywood pyramid has now opened.
On the top floor is the Sky Zone bar, plus the Blue restaurant.
Downstairs is a Heineken bar, lots of different seating areas, bookable bedrooms, and two great buffet areas.
Amsterdam KLM Non-Schengen lounge review
The brand new KLM Amsterdam Non-Schengen Lounge is amazing. Genuinely one of the best worldwide lounges, and particularly for a Business Class lounge it looks the part, and is, with a new stylish interior.
Technically called the KLM's flagship Crown Lounge 52, at Amsterdam Airport, it is designed for Long Haul flights, and flights to the UK, so has better dining than the Schengen lounge, for short haul, as well as a great bar, a good snooze area, and the wonderous plywood pyramid at the far end of the lounge.
This leads up to the (pay extra for) cocktail bar at the top of the lounge, and also the separate dining room, which again as an extra charge.
The non-Schengen KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam is the vast mother of a lounge, for all Skyteam flights to international departures out of the Schengen zone, which basically means anywhere non-Europe, and for the UK. It counts as the Amsterdam Delta Airlines business class lounge too (the Delta Skyclub Amsterdam), along with China Southern Airlines Amsterdam lounge &China Eastern, plus the Korean Air Amsterdam lounge & Aeroflot.
KLM's Business Class Lounge Amsterdam has a 1,500 seat capacity, and rarely feels busy. Indeed, it is more like a large hotel lobby, where you can wander around different areas, and indeed spend quite a few hours there.
It's mind-bogglingly big and KLM's flagship lounge at Amsterdam; one of the largest Business Class lounges on the planet, classy, stylish, new, but with it must be said, not that much in the way of facilities such as food or drink, and a third of the KLM Amsterdam Lounge closes during the day.
The KLM Crown Lounge 52 takes its name from the nearby gates, located just up and off the main drag of Holland Boulevard; take the stairs by the Heiniken Cafáé, or the lift. It's very close to all the shopping, plus the airport's library and museum.
Finding the lounge is the trickiest part. Signage is very poor, with only a couple of signs in the Schengen part of the terminal, so you need to know it is in the middle of the main Schengen terminal, opposite the art gallery, between the airport's E and F Piers. Then hunt around for a small KLM logo, and a wall of KLM's collectable Dutch houses.
Take the escalator upwards, just to the first level, and once in you'll see signs to five "Dutch landscapes" such as Polder, or City and Sea, which define parts of the lounge. In reality, it just means different seating area. However pretty much all of the lounge has a great view over the airport apron and the gates below thanks to large floor to ceiling windows.
As you walk in, walk to the left, and there is the large island magazine rack, and lots of large toy sheep, made from old KLM blankets. Next up is the bar and dining area, with the large curved copper bar, and behind it the main buffet area.
Up the stairs, and you head to the 'Sea' area which has great views too, over the airport and runway, with large high backed chairs. Right in the middle of this area is a large leather islandbench, which looks amazing, but is very uncomfortable to sit on.
There is a snoozing area at the far end of the lounge.
You can also book a small bedroom for a longer rest. These little cabins can be reserved online but often they are available during the day. They cost 50euro for three hours or 75euro for five hours. Each has a queen-sized bed, TV, and sink.
Going back, are several seating areas, and then a smaller buffet area.
Right at the other end of the lounge is the 'Mountain' area, with a large, but strange, plywood pyramid. It is great to explore this: it has the Blue bar right at the top, while entertainment with TV screens and game consoles are on the middle level, and dining is on the ground floor. It has another dining area and another quite select bar: as few people find this area of the lounge, it is much calmer than the rest of the lounge which can descend into a madhouse in the evenings.
There's also a darkened relaxation nap room with large bed-like chairs called cushioned chaises for a quick nap. Just be aware that no wake up service is provided, and it is very easy to fall asleep for hours.
If you continue upwards, there is another escalator, and then on the right, a paid for cocktail bar, called the 'Blue Bar'. Technically you can sit here without buying anything. But you can't on the other side - this is the 'Blue Restaurant' on the left, with great food, but a large cover charge.
Food at KLM Amsterdam Lounge
Close to the area called 'City' is the main buffet area, although there is also a small refectory area at the other end of the lounge.
Until 11am it is breakfast time, with a good selection of pastries and fruits, plus hot options such as bacon, eggs, mushrooms, and dutch spicey potatoes.
Lunchtime from 11am sees a switch, with many hot dishes, including the usual chicken and beef, plus some Italian variants such as meatballs, beef stroganoff, pasta with meat or vegge options, rice, and a soup of the day.
Salads are good too, and well catered for in the lounge, with many different bowls of salad variants.
There are sandwiches at the end, with salami, ham and cheese options.
There is the Dutch traditional dish of pea soup with smoked sausage. To follow for desert, there are the great Dutch inventions of caramelised waffle cookies.
There are of course trays of ham and cold meat, plus a bowl of salad leaves, if you don't fancy the scrum before the hot food, and a few bowls of nuts and nibbles.
Deserts are in the fridge.
Indeed, food-wise, the Amsterdam KLM Crown Lounge non-Schengen is adequate, but not startling good; it is no BA Concorde room that is for sure, but that's deliberate to make sure people go upstairs to the Blue restaurant. At least the menu is changed 3 times a day, and there is a theme four times a year; which tends to alternate through Dutch, Asian, US and European themes.
Bar at KLM Amsterdam Lounge
At several places in the lounge are wine buckets, with plenty of wine, including a French sparkling wine.
However, it is the large copper bar which gets a lot of attention, and is the most busy during the day.
Beer is of course locally-brewed Heineken, as you would expect.
There are plenty of spirits, including the local Amsterdam's Damrak Gin.
There is a small barista station by the bar, making coffee throughout the day.
The other bar at the far end of the lounge is somewhat more basic, having just beer on draft and a few spirits. there are vastly better places to drink than the smaller end bar at the KLM Lounge Amsterdam, although the bar does look quite impressive as you walk in.
There is Heineken on draft, as you would expect, and another beer on draft in the fridge. Wine is in the little trough on the curved bar: there is a sparkling wine, along with two types of red, and two of white.
There are just five bottles of spirits on optics above the bar - and indeed at the little mini bar in the separate bar by the pyramid which opens later in the day. Gin is Bombay Sapphire, Vodka Smirnoff, and Bacacdi, VSOP, and Dewards make up the rest of the mix.
Bathrooms
In lounge.There are a dozen private shower rooms, which are quite good and well equipped.
Towels are left in the showers, and amenities are available from the shower reception.
Business Facilities at KLM Amsterdam Lounge
Don't head towards the area marked 'City' if you have work to do: that's the buffet.
Instead, oddly, head towards the "Polder" area, where there are a number of communal work tables. These all have USB power, and most have mains 240 volt power as well, with euro round pin sockets. Alas, the power sockets are hidden in the middle of the table in a narrow trough, and it can be hard to get power adaptors or even phone chargers to fit.
Much better, and slightly more private, is the area called 'Sea' where there are a number of leather clad work alcoves. Each has a work table and a power socket and two powered USB ports.
Wifi is very good and fast.
There are power sockets dotted around the lounge.
There is a vast magazine rack beside the entrance, and Televisions are here too.
Blue Restaurant
On the upper floor, and only discretely advertised, are two pay extra for entrance rooms, with 'Blue Bar' on the right side and the 'Blue Restaurant' on the left.
The bar and restaurant can only be used if you have lounge access, unless you make a restaurant booking.
Indeed, you have to make a payment and reservation in advance to use the Blue Restaurant. You can pop into the Blue Bar, but all drinks and snacks here are chargeable.
The upper area also has a large balcony with amazing views of the gates below.
Blue Restaurant by KLM showcases ingredients and dishes local to the Netherlands, and has a menu designed by local chef Joris Bijdendijk of the Michelin-starred RIJKS restaurant in central Amsterdam. The restaurant's signature dish is beetroot millefeuille.
In Blue 'platters' are the main courses, and 'dishes' are small starter courses.
Blue by KLM is open from 7am until 10pm daily.
KLM Amsterdam Lounge Access
Access is given to KLM's business class passengers, Flying Blue Gold, Platinum and Club 2000 cardholders, and Skyteam top tier frequent flyers.
Access is also possible on codeshare flights with Qantas, and the correct Frequent Flyer card, including KLM's daily Amsterdam-Singapore for Qantas Platinum and Gold-grade frequent flyers.
Flying Blue Silver and base level members don't receive complimentary access, but can purchase access on the door for 50euro.
KLM and SkyTeam passengers can book online at Blue, regardless of lounge access via bluereservations@klm.com, or by calling +31650030360.
Video: KLM Non-Schengen Lounge 52
