The west side of Utrecht is on fire. From a patch on the other side of Utrecht Centraal station to hip, buzzing places with a cosmopolitan allure. The area around Utrecht Centraal, the Beurskwartier and the Kop van Lombok, is undergoing an ambitious transformation into a sustainable, green and healthy district. It's no coincidence that the municipality speaks of a Healthy Urban Boost. There's less car traffic, energy-neutral new builds, smart water management and lots and lots of greenery. And yes, that's possible with apartments too. Vertical gardens in an apartment complex. You didn't know it was possible until you saw it. This new central area will connect the historic city centre with buzzing Lombok, so that Utrecht will soon have one integrated city centre with an old part and a new part.
Contents
- Beurskwartier: the green skyline of the future
- Wonderwoods: a green wonder in the heart of the city
- Lombokplein: from traffic junction to relaxed living environment
- Why you want to live here: lifestyle, location and future value
Beurskwartier: the green skyline of the future
The Beurskwartier will become the beating heart of Utrecht's new healthy city life. A cluster of modern high-rise is going up here, but in the Utrecht way. Somehow Utrecht always remains a bit of a quaint, charming and cosy little city. But the Beurskwartier will be different. Think of streets where you walk and cycle instead of sitting in traffic jams; of squares with trees and terraces instead of car parks. The whole area will be low-traffic (a 30 km/h zone) and even largely car-free, making it a calm and healthy place to live. You can still get there by car, but via the Jaarbeurs side, and you really do live right opposite Utrecht Centraal here. At the same time there'll be plenty of buzz: new shops, cafés and restaurants, offices and cultural hotspots are all part of the plans. Also special: the Leidse Rijn (the canal) is being extended here and made navigable again, including three new bridges. So soon you'll be able to sail into the city by boat from Lombok – how cool is that?
One of the most eye-catching projects is Galaxy Tower on the Jaarbeursplein, with a hotel, homes and a rooftop bar, which is already giving the skyline a futuristic flair. But the absolute eye-catcher (and the talking point at every drinks party) has to be Wonderwoods, more on that below. Together with other projects, such as the redevelopment of the Jaarbeurs area, the new municipal office De Knoop and the towers on the Van Sijpesteijnkade, this area will become an ultra-modern urban district. Yet it won't be a soulless business district: on the contrary, the plans are aimed at an inclusive, lively neighbourhood with different types of housing (from social rent to owner-occupied apartments), green spaces and places to relax. And the fun part: at the Veilinghavenkade you'll find great restaurants, from Beers & Barrels to fine dining at Fico, from eating stamppot on the Statenjacht to a luxurious meal with matching beers at Feu, and cooling off at the city beach. In short, the Beurskwartier will be a place where you work, live and enjoy life in balance with the city around you.
Wonderwoods: a green wonder in the heart of the city
Wonderwoods is the symbol of the new west side: an iconic twin-tower project attracting international attention. This vertical forest in the heart of Utrecht isn't just a building, but an ecosystem in its own right. The balconies and façades will hold 75,000 plants and shrubs and around 300 trees, adding up to one hectare of forest in the middle of the city centre. Wonderwoods thus literally brings the forest of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug into the city. The result? A living building that purifies the air, provides coolness and offers a home to birds, bees and butterflies, bringing 30 animal species back into the city. What's more, the project is entirely focused on healthy urban living. The area will be car-free (although you can park your car in the car park behind it), there will be an innovative water-buffer system that collects rainwater (up to 150,000 litres), and facilities such as yoga studios, a gym and healthy food outlets are part of the concept.
Wonderwoods consists of two towers (104 metres and 70 metres tall) on the corner of the Croeselaan and the Jaarbeursboulevard. The tallest tower, designed by the Italian Bosco Verticale architect Stefano Boeri, will be completely covered with trees on its balconies. The lower tower, designed by the Dutch firm MVSA, has lots of glass and visible inner gardens. In total there are/will be 419 homes (167 for sale, 252 for rent), ranging from compact city apartments to luxury penthouses. All the regular apartments were sold and let at lightning speed; at the moment (2025) only a few penthouses are still available, a sign of how sought-after this project is. Besides housing, Wonderwoods also offers 15,000 m² of office space and public functions. There's a digital art museum, Nowhere, and all kinds of food and drink and sports facilities. Everything under one roof, or rather, everything among the trees.
As the first major project in the Beurskwartier, Wonderwoods marks a new phase in the transformation of this area. Alderman Eelco Eerenberg put it aptly at the start of construction: “This building brings life, quality, allure and dynamism to the city! The combination of residential towers with food and drink, a museum and more than 400 homes for different target groups gives Utrecht residents the chance to live in a green piece of the city centre. The presence of all that greenery contributes to a healthier living environment, exactly what this project stands for. Wonderwoods fits seamlessly with the concept of healthy city living.” You'll soon feel that healthy-city-living philosophy everywhere. From the roof gardens where you can do yoga with views over the Domstad (the city of the Dom tower), to the foot of the tower where you walk through a mini park towards the station. Wonderwoods is much more than brick and concrete. It feels cosmopolitan. As if you're in a big world city. Views, lots of amenities. Everything that makes life easier. But at the same time it still has the quaintness of the lovely canals with their wharves and the everyone-knows-everyone feel of our little city. This area also shows what the city of the future looks like.
Lombokplein: from traffic junction to relaxed living environment
Just west of Wonderwoods lies the Lombokplein (currently the Westplein). Where cars and bikes still rush criss-cross past traffic lights today, a completely new part of the city connecting Lombok with the centre will emerge in the coming years. Little by little we can already see it changing. There are already some beautiful new buildings and there's already a small park. New homes have been built and more new homes are on the way. In total there will be a good 350 to 400 new homes, spread over two buildings. One right at the head of Lombok and one along the Leidseweg. The residents here will be a mix.
The living environment is getting a huge boost: 300 extra trees are being planted, plus green verges and small parks. The redesigned Leidse Rijn with its new bridges will be an eye-catcher. Imagine: an afternoon of paddleboarding or taking out a little sloop right outside your apartment! And along the water there will be a park with natural banks, perfect for chilling on a summer evening. Thanks to these green arteries and low-traffic streets, the Kop van Lombok will feel like an extension of the park-like Wonderwoods site towards the authentic streets of Lombok.
Lombok itself is already a neighbourhood with a great vibe. You have the multicultural Kanaalstraat with its smell of freshly baked bread and spices, and trendy coffee places next to Turkish greengrocers. You'll find the lively mosque on the square (the Ulu mosque) and the colourful Lombok Festival every year. This liveliness of Lombok will soon be seamlessly connected with the new hotspots of the Lombokplein. For residents this means the best of both worlds: the snug atmosphere of an urban neighbourhood and the amenities and infrastructure of the modern centre (a metropolis) within easy reach.
Why you want to live here: lifestyle, location and future value
You can tell: this area has everything it takes to become one of the most sought-after places to live in Utrecht.
- Healthy urban lifestyle: Living in the Beurskwartier/Lombokplein means choosing a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. You walk or cycle everywhere, breathe cleaner air thanks to all the greenery, and exercise or relax with ease (from bootcamp in the park to yoga on the roof terrace). Everything you want is within easy reach. From the theatre to the station, from a trendy bar to an old-fashioned bakery and exotic ingredients. A few steps and you're there. But you're also in the old city centre in no time.
- All amenities on your doorstep: From doing your shopping to eating out, you can do it all on foot. The central station (with its immense bicycle park) is round the corner, Hoog Catharijne with its shops and cinema is less than 5 minutes' walk away, and new cafés, restaurants, an art museum and even a rooftop bar are coming to the area. Work hard, play hard, relax well. You can do it all locally here. The world is at your feet here.
- Top location for young professionals: Do you work in Utrecht or elsewhere? No problem: with Utrecht CS round the corner you're at work in no time, even if that's in Amsterdam or Rotterdam (commuting by public transport suddenly becomes attractive). And you can hardly get to Schiphol any faster. What's more, many (international) companies are setting up in this new central area, so the neighbourhood is buzzing with ambition and opportunities. Young professionals feel at home here among like-minded people, and after work they can choose: drinks in the city centre, exercise in the park or a networking event in one of the co-working spaces.
- Pied-à-terre paradise: Looking for a pied-à-terre in the city? Then a new-build apartment here is ideal. You don't have to worry about maintenance, you enjoy luxury facilities (some complexes offer guest rooms, shared cars, gyms etc.), and you hop on the train (to the airport) to your main residence whenever you need to. In between, you can make the most of cultural and culinary Utrecht. A second home that feels like a boutique hotel experience – who wouldn't want that?
- Compact living with great comfort: This area is also perfect for people who want to live smaller with a high level of amenities. The homes are smartly designed (think efficient floor plans, lots of light, a balcony among the greenery, privacy) and often gas-free/energy-efficient. The neighbourhood offers so much (park, food and drink, culture) that your living space beyond your four walls is practically endless. An afternoon of working from home? Find a spot in the shared roof garden or a nice coffee shop downstairs.
- Value growth & future prospects: Investing in a home in this new neighbourhood isn't just investing in your enjoyment of living now, it's also a smart move for the future. Utrecht is growing and flourishing, and this area is booming. Projects such as Wonderwoods are winning awards and putting Utrecht on the international map as an example of green urban living. The expectation is that homes here will hold their value extremely well and will probably rise as the neighbourhood matures. You'll also benefit from all the new amenities still to come (think schools, childcare, local entrepreneurs setting up shop). As Utrecht estate agents, we live, work and enjoy life in this city ourselves. We know every street, café and building site, and we dare to say: this is the place you want to be. 😃
Whether you dream of a stylish new-build apartment among the trees in Wonderwoods, or you see potential in Lombok & Nieuw-Engeland or the Dichterswijk, the west side of Utrecht will soon have something to offer everyone. This neighbourhood is rapidly developing into the place to be for city dwellers who want modern comfort without leaving the city. At Gusto Casa we're ready to help you make that dream come true. As local experts who live and work in Utrecht, we know the ins and outs of every development. We know what opportunities there are right now and what great things are still to come. Would you like to sell your home and present it as well as possible? We can do that too.
Take a look at our listings to see which homes are available now.
