Another location has just been announced for the Amex Centurion Lounge network, and it’s one that I’m excited about.
In this post:
Details of the new Amex Centurion Lounge Amsterdam
A new Amex Centurion Lounge is expected to open at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in 2026. The lounge will be the first proprietary lounge from a global credit card company at Europe’s fourth busiest airport. The lounge will be located between Concourse E & F. The catch is that the lounge will be on the small side, as it will be just under 6,000 square feet.
The Centurion Lounge Amsterdam is expected to “feature a Dutch-inspired design that celebrates Amsterdam’s local culture and heritage with work from local artists, floor-to-ceiling windows offering an abundance of natural light, and locally inspired food and beverage menus.”
The design 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 lounge will also have a coffee bar that pays 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” — a local phrase to describe a comforting, pleasant, and convivial atmosphere.
The Centurion Lounge network currently consists of 29 lounges worldwide. There are several other lounges under development, including in Newark (EWR), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Tokyo Haneda (HND).
This lounge will likely be nice but very crowded
In general, I find lounges run by credit cards to be most impressive in the United States. That’s for two reasons:
- Within the United States, even elite members and first class passengers often don’t have lounge access, while lounge access is a standard perk for those traveling on international itineraries
- Credit card lounges are typically better than lounges run by US airlines, so they have a big advantage there, while outside the United States, they’re often not comparatively as exciting
For example, I love visiting the Chase Sapphire Lounge New York (LGA), since it’s by far the best lounge at the airport. However, I probably wouldn’t visit the Chase Sapphire Lounge Hong Kong (HKG), if I could instead use the Cathay Pacific The Pier Business Lounge, or the Qantas Lounge, for example.
Now, in the case of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, it’s not exactly an amazing airport when it comes to lounge quality, and the terminal is also really spread out. I suspect the Amex Centurion Lounge will be really competitive with what’s otherwise offered. I do think the flagship KLM Crown Lounge is great and impressive for its scale, but aside from that, this will probably be the next best option. I suspect the soft product will be a bit better than at the oneworld Lounge.
The issue, unfortunately, is the small size of this lounge. At just under 6,000 square feet, this will be one of the smallest lounges in the network, and I imagine demand for the lounge will be huge. That’s not just the case because Schiphol is such a busy airport, but also due to its general lack of lounges.
The entire airport has just two Priority Pass lounges, which are Aspire branded. They’re consistently among the busiest Priority Pass lounges that you’ll find in Europe.
Bottom line
An Amex Centurion Lounge is coming to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 2026. It’s great to see the Centurion Lounge network expanding to the Netherlands, though this lounge will be on the small side, at just under 6,000 square feet.
What do you make of the Amex Centurion Lounge Amsterdam Schiphol?
The KLM lounge is outstanding. I’ll check out the new one but unlikely it will surpass KLM for comfort and variety. And KLM’s cute little delft touches.
Well Ben, Check Privium privileges in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Excellent lounges in Amsterdam and a small one at Rotterdam airport. Automatic passport control, car parking close to the terminal, and you can use the lounge after your flight or before you board an international train at Amsterdam Schiphol. This card is included with Amex Platinum in The Netherlands. Excellent service.
Re Amex lounge in Europe. Any luck with landing in T5 at Heathrow on a long layover and using Amex lounge in T3 before departure from T5.
Can airside transfer to T3 for Amex lounge be done?
Locally issued cards only like CPH?
Dutch people get free Privium membership including access to the best lounges with Amex Plat. So they won't go here.
Platinum fee no longer worth keeping the card. No desire to go to Amex lounge anymore. Buh-bye.
The KLM lounges are horrible, they have a rodent infestation, the food is awful and the drinks even worse- you can literally buy those wines for €3-4 a bottle in the supermarket, and it must be the only bar in the world that serves vermouth in 25ml measures, and no doubles! Anything that increases lounge capacity is good, but avoiding that airport is even better!
If E & F, this is non-Schengen? This will limit access to some degree.
I think you are giving the KLM non Schengen lounge too much credit. It is big, but can still fill up and be hard to get a seat. It can get excessively warm, the complimentary food is so-so, and the mice problem!! They have showers, but the self service kiosks are often broken, and I have had to wait hours for a shower.
Ben, is a chair not an important part of your lounge experience? Yes, hypothetically the Centurion Lounge is nicer in the US than the airline lounges. However, in the Admirals Club I can sit down.
Yeah, I agree with you. It seems like the bloggers go head over heals for the new fancy lounge, but honestly i just want quiet, space, coffee and a snack.
As an American Expat living in Amsterdam, this is much welcomed! Even though I do have KLM platinum ,but the KLM lounge is just... ok.... Any Amex lounge would be much better than the KLM lounge. Amsterdam just doesn't really have any good lounge at all. Especially food wise.
You compared the Centurion Lounge HKG to two of the best lounges in the world. At most international airports outside of the Gulf and East Asia ex-China, you would visit the Centurion Lounge over a business class airline lounge.
Why do you suppose Centurion Lounges have received the poor reputation they have? They are an embarrassment to the Amex brand. They are crowded frat houses. Even the one at Heathrow. Good heavens. I will take an airline-operated lounge over a Centurion Lounge every single time.
While I hold the Amex Platinum, access to Centurion Lounges is not a reason. It is really quite sad. And, between the refreshed CSR and the WF Autograph Journey, I have little reason to use the Amex Platinum much at all. In the absence of a refresh meaningfully superior to the refreshed CSR, I debate whether I'll keep the Amex Platinum.
This will be a mess, but of course still welcome.
I've rarely seen the Aspire lounge open to Priority Pass without a (sometimes > 1 hour) wait after registration with an QR code. Maybe for AMEX it will be slightly better because no business/status pax, but still...
Schiphol actually has a pretty good list of lounges if you know where to find them:
2x Aspire Lounge
3x Privium Lounge
1x Schiphol Vip Center (La Premiere has access tot this including chauffeur to plane)
1x Star Alliance lounge
1x OneWorld Lounge
2x KLM lounge
Between concourse E and F, you meant non-Schengen zone right?