The construction of the first Utrecht Upcycle Center, located in the Werkspoorkwartier near the Hof van Cartesius, has been completed. The 350 m² building, made of more than 90 percent reused materials, marks an important step towards a waste-free city by 2050.
Alderman Susanne Schilderman (Circular Economy) symbolically handed over the key today to UP Utrecht, who will manage the center. The grand public opening is expected to take place in March 2026, during the Circular Economy week.
“This is a real milestone on the way to a city without waste,” said alderman Schilderman. “The very first Upcycle Center in Utrecht is here. Together with our partners, we show how circular construction and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. The center will offer plenty of opportunities for reuse of items, developing craftsmanship, and more employment in the circular economy.”
The building itself is a showcase of circular architecture. Builder J.P. van Eesteren used, among other things, train windows from old trains, wooden trusses from a former salt storage, sandwich panels from a temporary shed at the Hof van Cartesius, and platform plates from Maarn station. The interior doors are reused and come from UMC Utrecht, as does the kitchen unit.
Breeding ground for circular makers
The Upcycle Center Werkspoor will be the place where residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations learn together about reuse, repair, and upcycling. In the so-called Maakplaats of UP Utrecht, workshops, knowledge sessions, exhibitions, and tours will take place. It works with material flows from the waste separation station at Tractieweg, where residents can deliver their reusable items and materials in a special UP container.
“With the Upcycle Center, we want to ensure that as many people as possible see the value of materials that they currently still consider waste,” says Bianca Ernst of UP Utrecht. “By showing the possibilities, learning to handle items differently, and activating companies to purchase and operate circularly.”
Next step: second center in Lunetten
Utrecht is working towards a fully circular city by 2050, where waste no longer exists and raw materials are reused continuously. The Upcycle centers, the circular raw material corridor, and the new raw material depot are concrete examples on the way to that goal.
In 2026, a second, larger Upcycle Center of 800 m² will follow at the waste separation station in Lunetten. Both centers are part of a broader collaboration between the municipality of Utrecht, UP Utrecht, and partners such as Emmaus Haarzuilens, De Arm, Buurman Utrecht, the Hof van Cartesius, Wij 3.0, and De Reparatiebalie. The projects are partly made possible by an EFRO subsidy through the Opportunities for West program.
Help and contact Municipality of Utrecht
Visiting address
Stadsplateau 1
3521 AZ Utrecht
Postal address
PO Box 16200
3500 CE Utrecht
