How Portwijnfestival makes payments simple for exhibitors with Buckaroo
Zwols Porthuis started as a webshop and grew into a specialist in selling port, with a physical store where tastings are also organised. In the Netherlands, there had not yet been a single festival focused exclusively on port. That is why the owners of Zwols Porthuis, Gerda and Chris, decided to organise a festival themselves in 2025: Portwijnfestival.
For this, they were mainly looking for one thing: a short-term payment solution that would work simply for every exhibitor. With Buckaroo’s payment terminals, they found exactly what they needed: ease of use, speed, and a professional payment experience.
A great opportunity for a distinctive wallet assortment in the Netherlands
Zwols Porthuis was founded by two enthusiastic entrepreneurs: Gerda Rink and Chris Aa. After a visit to the Portuguese region of Porto, the idea arose to start selling port in the Netherlands. “We discovered that what was available in Porto was very different from the port selection in the Netherlands. Here, you mainly see supermarket brands and the big well-known names. That is a shame, because it is precisely those smaller brands that are special and worth discovering.”
Chris and Gerda therefore saw a great opportunity to offer a more distinctive port assortment in the Netherlands. In 2016, they started with a webshop. In addition, they organised tastings featuring their own selection. This continued to grow in the years that followed. In 2021, during the coronavirus period, they took the step toward opening a physical store. By now, Zwols Porthuis is the importer of several small port brands and is still the only true port shop in the Netherlands. That unique position also set something else in motion.
A festival featuring 300 different ports from 34 distinctive brands
During visits to trade fairs in the Netherlands and abroad, it became clear that despite the love for port in the Netherlands, there was no event entirely dedicated to port and wines from the Douro region. So they decided to organise it themselves. That is how Portwijnfestival was created, held in a monumental church in the centre of Zwolle. A one-day festival with two time slots, where 300 different ports from 34 distinctive brands could be tasted. Many of the ports at the festival are not easily found in stores in the Netherlands. Here, you get the chance to taste rare and premium ports that are normally only available in Portugal or through specialised merchants.
A niche market with its own approach
Zwols Porthuis stands out in several ways. Not only because of its physical store, but also because of its focus on tastings, its own imports, a selection that differs from many online providers, and its deliberate choice for smaller brands. The festival truly has a character of its own. It stands apart from the store, allowing it to grow into a broader event for port in the Netherlands. Not only for the brands that Zwols Porthuis sells itself, but for the category as a whole.
For the festival, payments simply had to be easy
For the festival, Gerda and Chris were looking for a practical temporary payment solution for various exhibitors. Some participants already had their own payment solution. Other exhibitors did not have a payment terminal at all. Precisely because of that mix, the solution had to be simple.
Their requirements were clear: no complicated integrations with cash register systems, no installation hassle, and no dependence on Wi-Fi. Exhibitors had to be able to start immediately, even if they had less technical knowledge and/or came from abroad. It was also important that foreign debit cards and credit cards could be accepted without any issues. After all, in addition to Dutch visitors, many visitors from Germany, Denmark, and of course Portugal also found their way to the festival.
Through an online comparison, they came across Buckaroo. In the end, it was mainly the offering, ease of use, and costs that made them choose Buckaroo.
“They are simply no-nonsense rental terminals that are easy to use. All you have to do is enter the payment amount.”
– Gerda Rink and Chris Aa, Portwijnfestival
Get started quickly, with immediate payments using 21 rental terminals
During the festival, it was the simplicity that proved especially valuable. The 21 payment terminals they rented with 4G were ready to use immediately and delivered on time. Nothing had to be charged or installed. Switch them on, hand them out, and start taking payments. That worked well in an environment where speed matters. At the festival, transaction amounts varied widely, from small purchases at a cheese stand to bottles of port costing 200 or 300 euros. For those higher amounts, visitors often prefer to pay by credit card as well. So it was useful that this option was also immediately available on the rental terminals.
A payment service provider that thinks along with you
Gerda and Chris also describe their contact with Buckaroo as pleasant. They mention the telephone accessibility as a major advantage. Especially with payment service providers, being able to act quickly is important. You do not want to spend ages looking for help, but to speak directly with someone who thinks along with you.
Ready for the next step
Chris and Gerda still have many plans for the future. The festival has already grown into an annual event and now attracts around 600 visitors. The next step is to grow to 800 visitors. The next edition is already scheduled for 17 October 2026, once again at the Academiehuis Grote Kerk in Zwolle. In addition, Gerda and Chris are cautiously looking ahead to other opportunities, such as more events or perhaps even franchising the store.
As for the payment solution, the choice is clear: for the festival, what matters most is that payments work quickly, simply, and reliably. And that is exactly where Buckaroo has proven itself.
Fotografie: Buurman fotografie
Easily rent a payment terminal
-
Delivered three days before the rental period as standard
Ready to use immediately, delivered by PostNL -
The most affordable provider
From € 10,45 per day -
Excellent customer service
Direct support from a specialist
* Any delays caused by an external carrier may affect the final delivery time.
