Philips On Lage Weide, Utrecht

Index

Philips In Utrecht Region

Philips, the well-known company, began its factory in Eindhoven and later expanded throughout The Netherlands. The family was originally from Zaltbommel and moved to Eindhoven to start the famous Philips. In Zaltbommel the less famous Philips businesses stayed active and were not related to the one that was started in Eindhoven. In my own region Utrecht Philips had factories and offices in Amersfoort, Baarn, Eemnes, Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Veenendaal and Zeist (Wikipedia, 2026). This blog is about the Philips factory on Lage Weide Utrecht, Lasstaven.

Industrialization In Utrecht

In the second half of the 19th century, the industrialization of the province of Utrecht began, when the construction of railway lines started and the Merwede Canal was dug straight through the province of Utrecht (Verhalen van Utrecht, 2026).

Welding Rods & Welding Bolts

The Lasstavenfabriek in Utrecht produced welding rods (lasstaven). To weld, welding bolts or welding rods are needed. These rods of metal and chemicals are processed during the welding process. In the mid-20th century, Philips was a conglomerate of many different companies, including companies involved in welding rods (Usine-Utrecht, 2026a).

Why Lage Weide, Utrecht?

During Philips' expansion period in the post-war reconstruction era (1945-1965), Philips chose not to send factory workers to Eindhoven, but to establish factories in the regions where suitable factory workers already lived (Usine-Utrecht, 2026b). Something else also played a role regarding the welding rods: the proximity of a supplier of welding wire, DEMKA, and a major customer for welding rods, Werkspoor (Usine-Utrecht, 2026b). DEMKA and Werkspoor were established in Zuilen, Utrecht, reachable by bridge and ferry when Philips moved to Lage Weide. The production of welding rods, which at that time still took place in the factories in Eindhoven (building SAC), was moved entirely to Utrecht. On July 4, 1947, Philips purchased the building of the Machinerieën- En Apparaten Fabrieken (M.E.A.F.) at Croeselaan 28-30 in Utrecht (Philips Archives, 2026). The factory building was purchased from Pintsch (Usine-Utrecht, 2026 c) and was initially located on the Croeselaan.

Philips Lasstavenfabriek BV At Lage Weide, Utrecht

To accommodate the necessary expansions, the company moved to the then-new industrial estate of Lage Weide in 1958. In 1956, Philips purchased a site of approximately 5 hectares at Lage Weide (Philips Archives, 2026), Kernkade 18/Neutronweg, Utrecht. In 1958, a 2.400 m² building was constructed here for the storage of finished products for the Dutch Philips sales organization and export, as well as for the processing (drawing and cutting) and shipment of welding wires. This warehouse building was put into operation in March 1959 (Philips Archives, 2026). It was designed by the Philips design department. The factory complex consisted of an office, production halls for welding rods, a welding school, a laboratory, and a shipping center (Usine-Utrecht, 2026a). Effective September 11, 1974, the name of "Lasstaven Fabriek Utrecht BV" was changed to "Philips' Lasstavenfabriek BV" (Philips Archives, 2026). 

Plan To Relocate All Factory Activities From Croeselaan To Philips Lasstaven Lage Weide

Philips Lasstaven had already a factory complex of 2.400 m² built at Lage Weide, Utrecht, in 1958. Philips currently still has part of its activities at Croeselaan and part at Lage Weide. Nearly 9,5 million guilders was requested from the Centrale Budget Commissie in Eindhoven to move the entire manufacturing operation at Croeselaan to a newly built factory at Lage Weide. The new building would be integrated into the existing factory complex on Lage Weide Urecht. There was plenty of space, as Philips had purchased 5 hectares at Lage Weide in 1956. In a letter to the Central Budget Commissie, the necessity of the budget request was clarified with figures, a justification for why more space was needed, and why the production of welding rods had to be further mechanized (Philips Company Archives, 1961). The budgeting plans also included the relocation of the activities of the Belgian production in the Lasstavenpark in Wavre to Utrecht. The facility was further expanded in 1964 at Neutronweg 11 (Usine-Utrecht, 2026a). Effective September 11, 1974, the name "Lasstaven Fabriek Utrecht BV" was changed to "Philips' Lasstavenfabriek BV" (Philips Company Archives, 2026).

Lasstaven On Lage Weide Nowadays

Philips sold/ transferred its European welding activities to ESAB AB in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1985 (Philips Archives, 2026). The building complex Lasstaven is among the oldest on the Lage Weide industrial estate. As industrial heritage from the post-war reconstruction period, it deserves protection. Currently, these buildings serve as office spaces and industrial halls for multiple tenants (Usine-Utrecht, 2026b). The structure retained its original integrity, featuring period materials such as roof panels, softboard ceiling tiles, a cantilevered facade supported by steel and glass, and the incorporation of aerated concrete components (Usine-Utrecht, 2026a). It looks modern and contemporary upon entry. The office area has been adapted to meet the needs of tenants in the 21st century.

Sources

• Philips Company Archives (1961) Brief aan Centrale Budget Commissie.

• Philips Company Archives (2026) Korte kroniek Philips Lasstavenfabriek Utrecht.

• Usine-Utrecht (2026a) De Philips lasstaven fabriek “De Lasstaaf” te Utrecht, bezocht op 27 april 2026.

• Usine-Utrecht (2026b) De schoorstenen van de Wederopbouw: naar de hoogste constructie van Nederland, bezocht op 27 april 2026.

• Verhalen van Utrecht (2026) Stille getuigen van de industrialisatie, bezocht op 27 april 2026.

• Wikipedia (2026) Lijst van Philips vestigingen, bezocht op 27 april 2026.

Hartelijk dank aan Koninklijke Philips N.V. / Philips Company Archives voor het ter beschikking stellen van archiefmateriaal over de Lasstaven-fabriek in Utrecht.

Dit is deel 4 van mijn 7-delige serie achtergrondblogs over Lage Weide (Nederlandse versie). Deel 1 gaat over de noodzaak om Nederlands te leren op Lage Weide; Deel 2 gaat over de vergaderwandelroutes op Lage Weide; Deel 3 gaat over de audio fiets- en wandelroutes in de omgeving van Lage Weide; Deel 5 gaat over de toekomstige Windmolenpark op Lage Weide; Deel 6 gaat over de Energiecentrale op Lage Weide en Deel 7  gaat over het verleden, heden en toekomst van Lage Weide.

Dank gaat uit naar de Media Fonds Provincie Utrecht voor het beschikbaar stellen van fondsen voor journalisten om het lokale verhaal te vertellen.