New ‘Spaces Lounge’ Opens at Amsterdam Schiphol

A brand-new lounge catered for co-working and business meetings has been unveiled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS). The new working space—perfect for business travelers looking for a quiet study area before their flight—is called the ‘Spaces Lounge’ and is part of an ongoing redevelopment of the airport’s Departure 1 Lounge.

Located in a public area above Departure Hall 1, the lounge houses six ‘fully-equipped’ working areas accommodating over 100 people. It also includes four private meeting rooms and is adjacent to another new space—the Panorama Restaurant.

Meeting spaces at the new lounge can be booked for a small fee. To enter, users are not required to be booked on a flight as it is not affiliated with any airline. Therefore, users are not requested to provide any membership details or boarding passes.

Photo: Courtesy of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

The concept is part of a partnership between Amsterdam Schiphol and workspace provider IWG, carrying out a plan to open “at least 200 new flex offices in the Netherlands over the coming five years.”

The adjacent Panorama Restaurant, catered by HMSHost Nederland, is also promoted as “an accessible meeting place.”

“We are extremely proud to open both locations that focus on different target groups,” said Arthur Reijnhart, director of commercial at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. “Flexible office space at the airport means that professionals can be productive wherever they are — whether they need local office space or want to use their waiting or transfer time optimally while on a business trip.”

According to Reijnhart, the adjacent Panorama Restaurant “is a fantastic addition with a vision to offer business travelers and other individuals a place to meet up. But it’s definitely a place where families and plane spotters can relax and enjoy views of the Panorama Terrace, runways and departing and arriving planes too.”

Photo: Courtesy of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

While Amsterdam is a major European destination in its own right, Schiphol —a hub for Dutch flag carrier KLM—also serves as a central connecting hub in the region. It has six runways, sees around 18 million passengers pass through it yearly, and offers comprehensive air, ground, and rail connectivity. These numbers should provide more than enough business travelers wanting to use the new Spaces Lounge.

Although the Spaces Lounge is relatively unusual as an airline lounge concept, it’s not unique. Similar working spaces designed for business travelers can be found at major international airports, including Sao Paulo (GRU), Frankfurt (FRA), and Dubai (DXB).