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Schiphol (AMS) is the Netherlands' principal airport. Located South West of Amsterdam. Schiphol is a European main airport, competing in passenger and cargo throughput with Heathrow International Airport in London, UK, Frankfurt International Airport Germany, and Charles de Gaulle International Airport France. Schiphol is the home airport of KLM - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Airlines), Martinair and Transavia, and a hub for United States based Northwest Airlines. Schiphol also has a large shopping area, The Schiphol Plaza, which is used by both air travellers and non-travelling visitors. Much of the shopping area is open until midnight seven days a week. Schiphol was awarded the title of "Best European Airport" for 15 consecutive years (1988-2003) and has also won "Best Business Travel Airport". This is due to it’s design, and its high number of international and intercontinental flights. The airport also has a major passenger railaway station located directly beneath the terminal complex of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The rail service is operated Dutch national railway-company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen and there are regular services to Amsterdam on board impressive ‘double decker’ carriages. Where does the name come from? Schiphol's name means "ship hole". It is part of the Haarlemmermeerpolder, which before 1850 was a large lake. The original name was 'schiphel' meaning 'ship hell', because many ships strangely got lost in the lake. Schiphol also holds the accolade of being the world's lowest major commercial airport, the foot of the control tower is 3 metres below sea level.