The first section of the Schiphollijn was opened on 20 December 1978 between Schiphol and Amsterdam Zuid.

[citation needed] This section of the Schiphollijn features a 6 kilometres (3.7 mi)-long tunnel, in which Schiphol railway station is located.

[citation needed] The line was extended in both directions in 1981 to Amsterdam RAI and Leiden Centraal; new stations were opened at Hoofddorp and Nieuw-Vennep.

Duivendrecht station opened to provide a connection between the new line and the Amsterdam–Arnhem railway.

The most important stations on the line currently are: Leiden Centraal, Hoofddorp, Schiphol airport, Amsterdam Zuid, Duivendrecht and Weesp.