The importance of agglomeration effects for distribution centres around Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a main European airport and represents an important concentration of European distribution centres (EDCs). It is commonly assumed that distribution centres are attracted to the airport region because of its air transport services. However, if one considers economies of agglomeration, whereby the geographical clustering of economic activities can result in increasing returns, it is quite possible that a significant amount of EDCs have been established near Schiphol for non-airport related reasons. To this end, the present paper investigates agglomeration effects for distribution centres around Schiphol. It reports on two cross-sectional surveys: one of the EDCs around Schiphol and one of the total Dutch population of EDCs. The study finds that economies of agglomeration — and not the air transport services themselves — are in fact the most important location forces responsible for the attraction of EDCs into the Schiphol area. This result shows that Amsterdam-Schiphol is more than simply a transport hub. Correspondingly, the major role of agglomeration effects should be recognised in future policy to manage and control the economic development of the airport area.