This corner of the inland sea was particularly treacherous. For this reason, some believe the name comes from Ships Hell or the Dutch Scheepshol, where 'hol' means grave. This means the Schiphol area was where ships would sink to the bottom of the lake.

The origin of the name "Schiphol" is a subject of historical debate, but the most popular and evocative theory is that it translates to "Ship Hell" (Scheepshol). Before the Haarlemmermeer was reclaimed from the water in 1852, the area where the airport now sits was a shallow, turbulent corner of a large lake where many ships were lost during fierce storms. Another plausible theory suggests the name stems from "Schip Holl", meaning low-lying land (Holl) where wood or timber (Skip/Scip) was gathered. A third, less dramatic theory suggests it comes from "scheepshaal", a ditch used for towing ships between lakes. Regardless of which version is true, the name first appeared in documents around 1450. In 1916, a military airfield was established on the site of a former fort with the same name, eventually growing into the world-class international hub known today.