100 years of Schiphol, celebrities and historical figures

Schiphol airport celebrates its centennial this year and has created an online museum with the most remarkable and historical images and videos captured at the Dutch national airport during the past 100 years.

It’s the first that this material has been made available to the public like this. It’s been provided by the airport archives, Stadsarchief Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Museum and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

The online museum is truly a journey through time and world history. You can see the first commercial flight to New York take off, the first flight by a jet airliner in the Netherlands, the arrival of the Beatles to screaming fans, a civil rights speech by Martin Luther King Jr and much more.

Here are our favourite videos and stills of celebrities and historical figures making their appearance at the Amsterdam airport:

Martin Luther King Jr.

On August 16, 1964 civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. arrived with his wife to attend a conference in the Netherlands.

Video: Polygoon-Profilti (producent) / Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid (beheerder), CC-BY-SA. Photo: Joost Evers, Nationaal Archief / Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY 4.0.

Walt Disney

In 1951 Walt Disney came to the Netherlands with his family for a vacation. In the video he receives flowers from the actress who played the lead role in the Dutch version of Alice in Wonderland.

Video: Polygoon-Profilti (producent) / Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid (beheerder), CC-BY-SA.

The Beatles

On June 5, 1964 the Beatles landed at Schiphol and were welcomed by 3.000 adoring fans. The super group received flowers, cheese, herring and a Volendam hat for each band member.

Photo: Harry Pot, Nationaal Archief / Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY 4.0.

Johan Cruijff

The greatest Dutch football player of all time Johan Cruijff is seen here with his wife on their way to Barcelona. FC Barcelona bought him from AJAX for six million guilders, which made him the most expensive football player in history at the time.

Photo: Hans Peters, Nationaal Archief / Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY 4.0.

Ella Fitzgerald

In 1980, famous jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (then 62) came to the Netherlands to give a concert.

Photo: Marcel Antonisse, Nationaal Archief / Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY 4.0.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn arriving with her husband Mel Ferrer. She came to the Netherlands to raise money for Dutch war veterans.

Photo: J.D Noske, Nationaal Archief / Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY 4.0.