Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
A modern four-star hotel with 68 rooms, a wellness center, a restaurant, and an underground parking garage will be built on the site of the old family hotel De Wigwam: Hotel the Dunes. Project manager Erik Willemse calls it a multifaceted project that brings together all disciplines: “Logistics, technology, and archaeology: everything comes together here.”
The project officially started in March 2024, but the preliminary phase began years earlier. “The permits and studies took a long time,” says Willemse. “The clients, Norbert and Michel Bimmel, have been working on this for years. We were brought in by the architect, Harmonische Architectuur, who knew us from before and asked us to contribute our ideas.”
The location is challenging: sandwiched between residential streets and beach traffic, with hardly any space for storage or transport. Nevertheless, an underground parking garage with 72 spaces was built underneath the building. “We poured both the basement floor and the basement screed in one go,” says Willemse. “The first required 930 cubic meters of concrete and the second 1,170 cubic meters in a single day. That called for tight planning, with clear agreements between the concrete plant, drivers, and pouring crew. If someone runs late, your schedule collapses.” Archaeology also played a role during the groundwork. “Part of the site had to be excavated under supervision. When finds turned up, we had to switch gears immediately. In the meantime, we were already busy digging and laying foundations. Then you really have to plan around people. Not ideal, but it's part of the job.”
Above ground, too, the work is not standard. The roof structures are technically complex. “They have many different connections, ridge beams, and dormer windows. And then they are partly covered with roof tiles and partly with aluminum,” says Willemse. “That really requires craftsmanship.” The facades require the same attention to detail. The brickwork is Flemish bond, partly plastered, partly painted. “This creates a warm and varied look that fits in well with the surroundings.”
The design fits in with the scale and character of the village. The three building volumes follow the building line of the old Wigwam, but are slimmer in design and offer more comfort and quality.
According to Willemse, cooperation between all parties is running smoothly. “The client is involved, the subcontractors are professional, and we keep the lines of communication short. That is essential, especially with projects like this. One mistake and you're playing catch-up.”
Hotel the Dunes is scheduled to open in the spring of 2026. For Van Wijnen, the project fits well within its broader experience with complex construction projects. The combination of technical challenges, limited space, and high standards for appearance and sustainability makes it a typical example of building under pressure and high-level collaboration.
