After my Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam, I visited the KLM Crown Lounge 52 (international) ahead of my connection to Paris. I was blown away by how superb this lounge was.
Spectacular: KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam (International)
I almost made the mistake of proceeding directly through passport control and proceeding to the Schengen Lounge, a lounge I have visited before. Thankfully, I remembered that I had not reviewed Lounge 52, which turned out to be a far superior lounge in so many ways.
First, it’s huge. Second, it seemed crowded when I got there and still fairly crowded when I left. But third, it has seating for a whopping 1,500 guests (the lounge is 73,195 square feet) and there was no shortage of seating.
I first noticed a coffee station downstairs with two baristas making coffee. I ordered a flat white and found it to be very good (Delta had no espresso onboard, blaming COVID-19).
But I then proceeded upstairs where I found Blue Restaurant sadly closed (likely permanently) but Blue Bar open. I wasn’t in the mood for alcohol (there are free items plus a for-purchase menu of cocktails and top-shelf liquor), but there were baristas upstairs and they had far superior coffee machines. Indeed, I had another flat white (and later a cappuccino) upstairs and it was truly excellent.
I love the outdoor terrace.
During my stay I also showered (interesting set-up) and had a bit of breakfast.
The Delft Blue house collection is so cool.
CONCLUSION
There are all sorts of nooks and crannies in this lounge that I will address in the full review, but wanted to add my first impressions without delay about this most excellent lounge. This lounge will join my top-10 all-time business class lounge list…the coffee, food, natural light, and decor make it one of the best.
AMS is my favorite airport to fly into Europe and later connect. I am happy that I live in a Delta hub so I usually fly to AMS and it is so easy to then get anywhere in Europe. I’ve been to this lounge many times. Although I agree it is great, food has always been not memorable (maybe because Dutch food is nothing special). Anyway, I love Schiphol airport, great hotels walking distance from the gate, easy train to the city and fantastic connections.
Interestingly, I find Schiphol a dungeon…one of my least favorite airports in Europe (though CDG is worse). But the train is convenient and the non-Schengen KLM lounge really impressed me. But I find the KLM Lounge 25 pretty depressing and the Aspire, BA, and Star Alliance lounge are not much better.
It is an easy Airport. No buses to change terminals at least if you are flying SkyTeam. You get out of your international flight and look at the screen to check your next flight and walk to the next gate. I rarely use lounges there. I find they have nice coffee shops where you can eat healthy options, nice shopping and the hotels are so easy to just walk in. CGG is a disgrace, Heathrow you need to take a train to change terminals. Those are the 3 airports I usually fly into Europe so AMS wins for me.
“I find Schiphol a dungeon…one of my least favorite airports in Europe (though CDG is worse).”
I disagree. I find both very nice. CDG used to have some bad terminals, years ago, but now it looks very good. AMS is a smaller airport and I’ve been transiting through it for the past 25 years. The quality was always consistent, from my point of view, and the easy access to downtown, by train, is a huge plus, esp. if you want to go out during a medium-sized layover (5 hours)..
Last time I used the lounge you reviewed was in August of last year. It was just ok, from my point of view. Relatively crowded and just a few places where you could take a nap, if you were jetlagged. The food was perfectly fine but few lounges I’ve been to have better quality so I have modest expectations.
Late commenting, but I am with Santastico and Piotr with this. Nothing spectacular about the lounges (though 52 is the one lounge I have not visited, which will change in a month or so), but it is a pretty convenient airport, easy to get around in, and the metro and train station are in the airport right there at the entrance, with several hotels you can just walk to in a covered walkway. CDG takes a little time to get around in, and Terminal 1 (currently closed) is a mess, but 2E and 2F are perfectly fine, with great AF lounges and a convenient train station. I would rank IAH, DFW and ATL as much worse, particularly in how spread out they are and the extra time it takes to get around. And don’t get me started on DEN.
Couldn’t agree more with you!! I also don’t miss any opportunity to transit through Schipol and use both the Schengen and Crown lounges whenever i pass through. Mostly busy but there’s a calmness that I enjoy even if it’s a short transit window. Yes, the food isn’t the most amazing aspect about the two lounges.
I’ve been to this lounge 6 times in the past year. A few notes to add here;
-There is a kiosk to book shower times but they rarely say there is any availability. If you talk to an agent at the check in desk, they can book it for you.
-Agreed that top level is better with the outdoor terrace. Glad to see that Blue is open for seating at least.
-AMS has decent duty free shops and if you go to their website, they have coupons for €5 off €25 liquor, food, or beauty items. They will email it to you instantly for use immediately.
Finished product looks really nice. When I was there in August, 2018, the upstairs section was still under construction, and the downstairs area, while nice, was an absolute zoo. Too bad Blue looks permanently dead, though.
“ I first noticed a coffee station downstairs with two baristas masking coffee.”
Seems like there is always at least one typo per post.
I was just at that lounge before the SFO flight and it was so packed we just left. It made the AMEX SFO lounge look decent. Nice space but they need more of it.
Is this lounge open to ARRIVING intercontinental KLM business class passengers for whom Amsterdam is their final destination? Or must you present a boarding pass for a connecting or departing flight to access the lounge?
Connecting only.
Flying blue elites may use the lounge on arrival too.
Can you explain why Blue Restaurant is closed “likely permanently”?
Sadly, it closed during the pandemic and its Instagram account indicated it would not re-open.
Do you get a blue house if flying across Europe in business class or just internationally?
Only on longhauls or fifth freedom flights within Asia.
Was there in October but with going thru passport check and health paper check there was no time left to get to the lounge either way..Bummer
Is this lounge exclusive for KLM business passengers?
SkyTeam business and elites
I love the outdoor patio! So enjoyable! And the “mountain” or whatever you might call it at the far end with the multiple levels between first and second floor.