FeelThere has surprised us today with the release of a major airport in Europe for Microsoft Flight Simulator: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (EHAM). Priced at around €15 + taxes, this version of Schiphol promises to be an affordable and significant upgrade over the default airport, balancing a noticeable increase in detail and realism with modest performance demands.
Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the largest and most significant hubs in Europe. While still recovering to its pre-pandemic passenger numbers, which exceeded 70 million annually, the airport has been handling an average of 5.5 million passengers per month this year. At this rate, Schiphol is on track to approach and possibly surpass those pre-pandemic figures by next year or in 2026.
Schiphol serves as the primary airport for the Netherlands and is a major hub for KLM and other international carriers. With six runways and a unique single-terminal design, Schiphol is a favorite among aviation enthusiasts and spotters, offering plenty of diversity in aircraft and operations. The airport is known for its long-haul flights, efficient connections, and sprawling operations that stretch across multiple continents.
Schiphol’s design is distinct due to its large footprint and its location below sea level—over three meters below in fact—making it one of the lowest-altitude international airports in the world. For flight simulation fans, Schiphol’s complex taxiway and runway system, as well as its varied airline traffic, make it an appealing challenge.
FeelThere’s rendition of Schiphol brings many of these real-world features to life within the sim, offering much more than just a visual upgrade over the default version. The airport includes over 80 highly detailed buildings with PBR texturing, giving the terminal and surrounding structures a more realistic, life-like appearance. The terminal interior is also modeled, providing simmers with a glimpse of Schiphol’s architecture beyond just the exterior—a nice touch for those who enjoy exploring airports from a passenger’s perspective.
On the ground, FeelThere has completely modeled the airport’s surfaces, including realistic decals, dirt, and weathering effects. Taxiways, lines, and surfaces are all recreated with a high level of accuracy. This attention to detail extends to the realistic runway slopes, something that can sometimes be overlooked but is vital for pilots who want to experience a more accurate approach and landing.
Custom animated jetways bring an added level of immersion to the airport’s operations, while an updated AFCAD file ensures that parking spots and taxiway names are aligned with real-world data.
Lighting is another highlight, with FeelThere having improved both the taxiway and runway approach lighting to better match what pilots see in real-world conditions. Additionally, the scenery includes numerous objects and clutter that bring Schiphol to life, from service vehicles to baggage carts.
FeelThere’s philosophy is rooted in delivering large-scale airports with a good balance between detail and performance. Schiphol joins their growing portfolio, which includes major airports like Los Angeles (KLAX), Denver (KDEN), Las Vegas (KLAS), and Dubai (OMDB). While these airports may not reach the ultra-high fidelity seen in some premium products (Schiphol is also available from FlyTampa, which offers a top-tier rendition of the scenery), they offer significant improvements over the default versions at a fraction of the performance cost, allowing simmers with mid-range PCs to enjoy enhanced realism without frame-rate issues.
At just around €15, FeelThere’s Schiphol provides a solid option for simmers looking to explore one of Europe’s busiest airports in greater detail without breaking the bank.
