The first Italian food market Eataly has opened in the Netherlands

Eataly is finally in the Netherlands—and at Schiphol, no less! Anyone who has ever wandered through one of these Italian food paradises in Turin, New York or Paris knows: you don’t just walk out with a jar of pasta sauce. You leave with fifteen jars of pasta sauce, truffle chips, wine and probably a new identity as a semi-professional pizza maker. And now we have one too… at our very own airport.

Eataly at Schiphol: a destination in its own right

A few weeks ago, I was still at the OG Eataly in Turin. I wandered through the aisles, drooling, sighing to a colleague that it really was high time we had this shopping paradise in the Netherlands too. And sure enough: Eataly at Schiphol is now a fact! In Lounge 1, you’ll find this delightful Italian supermarket-cum-restaurant. From pizza alla pala (in other words: street food from Rome) to espresso, and from pecorino to panettone: this is your stop before you board.

So you don’t even have to book a holiday to Italy to buy all these goodies from the boot. You only need to get to Schiphol a little early. (Okay, maybe a little extra early.)

Eataly in the Netherlands… Why did it take so long?

Let’s be honest: it was high time Eataly set foot in the Netherlands. Because if there’s one nation that loves Italian cheeses, pasta, cold cuts and wines, it’s us. We drive all over the country in search of good burrata and invest in a top-notch pasta machine (which then sits unemployed on the kitchen counter for a year, ahem, yes, that too).

The fact that it’s finally happened feels like justice. And Schiphol is a smart first location: the whole world passes through it, and there’s more than enough room for a whole lot of deliciousness.

No more grimy airport snacks—just pizza alla pala before departure

You know the ones: those airport sandwiches with an outrageous price and not enough soul. From now on, you can happily ignore them. At Eataly at Schiphol, you can get a genuine pizza alla pala; an oblong tray-baked pizza with a perfect crust, airy and crispy at the same time. It instantly makes you crave a glass of red wine, but alas… gate B15 won’t wait.

Unless you simply get a second slice. Because you can. You’re on holiday. Or on a business trip. Or you just make up an excuse.

Shop till you board: truffle chips, Barolo and souvenirs you’ll actually want

In Turin, Eataly is a huge Italian food market full of good, honest and responsibly produced food. You’ll find countless high-quality, authentic products here: cheese, cold cuts, pasta, coffee, olive oil, bread, wine and culinary gifts. You can shop here, but you can also eat. Because besides being the supermarket of your dreams, it’s also a restaurant and a shop. At Schiphol, in a more compact form, but still.

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute gift for your Italian mother-in-law or simply want to stuff your hand luggage full of the tastiest things yourself: you’re in the right place.

What should you take home?

• Fresh pasta (to enjoy a delicious meal on your very first day in your Airb&b)
• And grab a Barolo to go with it
• Cannoli or other Italian pastries to get you through your flight (sfogliatella, for example: the Italian answer to the croissant. Or maritozzi, a Roman brioche filled with fresh whipped cream.)
• Delicious Italian truffle chips for the journey

The great thing about Eataly at Schiphol is that they haven’t just brought over the products, but the feeling too. The place is decorated with warm wood tones, open displays, a stylish bar and a kitchen where you can see the pizzas glistening under a little lamp. And there’s that delicious smell, as if you’re already standing in Rome.

Flying out? Start with an espresso and a little taste of Italy

Want to grab a coffee before departure? Forget Starbucks. Just walk over to Eataly, order a genuine espresso and enjoy life for five minutes. Yes, even at Schiphol. Afterwards, you can still sprint to your gate with a perfectly wrapped panini and the feeling that you should have got off in Rome instead of Vienna.

5 things you absolutely must get at Eataly at Schiphol

Eataly is open daily from 06:00 to 22:00. One last shopping list:

• Pizza alla pala: thin, crispy and perfect in flavour
• Porchetta panini: for breakfast, lunch or as a life goal
• Truffle chips: the snack of all snacks
• A bottle of Barolo or Chianti: for your suitcase (check your liquids!)
• Italian chocolates or cantuccini: a little gift for yourself or someone else.

Also read:

• 5 things not to do when you go to Italy
• Italian dishes you will never, ever get in Italy
• 7 of the most delicious dishes in Northern Italy