News
Hospitality
Jan 22, 2026
Schiphol has gained a unique hotspot with The Wanderer
With its stylish interior, The Wanderer by Dutch Cocktail Club wouldn't look out of place as a rooftop bar in a trendy hotel in a global city. But the new concept isn't located in London or New York, but at Schiphol Airport. Cocktails, street food, and travel experiences come together here in a unique setting.
A Unique Travel Experience
It's a bit of an "odd one out," says Dennis Hoogreef, Senior Vice President at HMSHost Schiphol, about The Wanderer. "I see the insides of many airports, but a place like this is truly unique and this is exactly what we do at Avolta create unique and memorable experiences for our travelers." Avolta’s HMSHost, manages the new hospitality concept that opened in Lounge 1 at the beginning of October. Travelers can enjoy cocktails and street food dishes from all over the world in a unique, chic, yet accessible setting.
The Wanderer can accommodate over 240 guests. Travel experience is central to the concept, says Hoogreef: “The interior exudes adventure and warmth, thanks in part to all sorts of items that evoke travel experiences. For example, there's a wall of stacked old suitcases, and an artist has created beautiful paintings of iconic locations around the world. The prints on the furniture, wallpaper, and lampshades are vibrantly colorful and bold. And there's a DJ booth where they spin on the weekends.” A real eye-catcher is the gigantic custom-made "new-style chandelier" above the bar.
Insight and Insight
The design of the new hotspot is inspired by the stories of Jules Verne, a French writer known for his adventurous travelogues. Dutch Cocktail Club and architect Cuchman Wakefield designed the space; Bulsink then took over the project and handled everything from technical engineering to construction coordination and implementation (see box). Construction was completed within just over six months – an exceptionally fast turnaround for a project of this magnitude.
Jessie van der Steen, Account Manager at Bulsink and commercially responsible for the project, explains how this was made possible: “From the outset, we brought together the project teams from Bulsink, HMSHost, and Schiphol. By collaborating intensively from the design phase onward, each party was able to contribute ideas and steer towards the best possible result.”
This last point is important, because building at an airport comes with additional challenges. For example, both personnel and materials must pass through customs (and therefore be screened), and there are additional safety and fire safety requirements. “Planning is therefore crucial; everything must be approved in advance,” says van der Steen. Hoogreef adds: “Moreover, the construction is taking place at a fully operational airport, so you have to take that into account.”
High Traffic Intensity
For Bulsink, the challenge lay in ensuring feasibility and feasibility without compromising the design's aesthetic. Van der Steen explains: "This requires attention not only to safety and planning, but also to budget control, technical feasibility, and sustainability. Traffic intensity at an airport is extremely high. A wooden floor looks beautiful but wears out too quickly in such an environment. That's why we opted for high-quality, durable, and low-maintenance tiles with a wood texture—this way, we maintain the desired appearance and quality in the long term."
The Wanderer was the first major collaborative project for Bulsink and Avolta’s HMSHost. Van der Steen: “Of course, there are sometimes difficult moments in such a process, especially when everything finally comes together in that pressure cooker. Short lines of communication are extra important then; that was absolutely perfect.” Hoogreef nods: “Bulsink is located near Eindhoven, not right next door to Schiphol. But their people were always present. And our corporate culture turned out to be a good match with Bulsink’s.” Hoogreef is impressed with the result. “And the travelers are too. I wouldn't be surprised if frequent flyers swap the business lounge for The Wanderer from now on!”
