Uplace

What Uplace does

Uplace nv is a privately held Belgian real-estate developer headquartered in Strombeek-Bever, tracing its lineage to 1992 when Bart Verhaeghe and contractor Luc Verelst built Eurinpro, which was later acquired by Australia's Goodman Group in 2006. The current Uplace entity focuses on large-scale mixed-use development combining retail, residential, office, leisure and cultural uses, with a stated emphasis on circular-economy construction principles. Its principal projects are BROEKLIN, a 153,250 m² circular workshop district on a 12.5-hectare site in Machelen backed by €500 million of private investment; Hof van Saeys, a 103-unit urban renewal scheme in Dendermonde executed under a public-private partnership with the city; and the Belfius Basecamp training facility for Club Brugge in Knokke-Heist.

Uplace's core differentiator is circular construction: fossil-fuel-free buildings, 5 hectares of solar panels, sustainable water management, 3,000 m² of integrated urban farm, and short-chain logistics where waste from on-site production is reused as raw material. The BROEKLIN concept was shaped since 2018 under Professor Alexander D'Hooghe through a multi-stakeholder process, and the project carries a 1,600-seat cultural venue and educational components that distinguish it from conventional shopping centers.

The company operates with 11-50 employees and earns revenue through one-time residential and commercial property sales (e.g., Hof van Saeys apartments) and, once BROEKLIN is operational, recurring rental income across retail, office and SME space totaling more than 124,000 m². Go-to-market is sales-led, complemented by exclusive retail leasing via Cushman & Wakefield for BROEKLIN and direct public-private partnerships with Belgian municipalities. Uplace is led by CEO Jan Van Lancker (since 2004), Chairman Bart Verhaeghe (founder) and co-founder Luc Verelst, and is privately held with no disclosed institutional or external investors.

Name

Uplace

Legal name

Uplace nv

Website

https://uplace.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Uplace nv is a privately held Belgian mixed-use real-estate developer specializing in circular-economy construction, with active projects including the 153,250 m² BROEKLIN district in Machelen and the 103-unit Hof van Saeys urban renewal in Dendermonde.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) (531120), Nonresidential Property Managers (531312), Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Land Subdivision (23721)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction (IMAFACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mixed-Use Property Management (BPAJAGAE), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

Keywords

• Mixed-use real estate
• Urban renewal projects
• Commercial property leasing
• Residential development
• Sustainable construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Strombeek-bever

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Real estate development and sales: Uplace develops mixed-use real estate projects (residential, commercial, offices) and sells units to end-users and investors. Revenue from property sales to buyers of apartments and commercial spaces.
2. Commercial leasing: Uplace leases retail (55,000 m²), office (25,000 m²), and SME spaces (32,250 m²) to tenants in projects like BROEKLIN, generating recurring rental income.
3. Public-private partnership revenue: Uplace enters PPS agreements with municipalities where cities purchase infrastructure components (parking spaces) while Uplace develops the broader mixed-use property.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Uplace develops mixed-use real estate projects in Belgium integrating retail, residential, offices, leisure, and cultural spaces. Their flagship projects include BROEKLIN, a 153,250 m² circular workshop district in Machelen/Brussels combining retail, F&B, offices, SME workspaces, and an urban farm with 500 million EUR private investment, and Hof van Saeys, a 103-unit urban renewal residential project in Dendermonde with healthcare and commercial spaces. Revenue is generated through property sales to individual buyers and investors plus commercial leasing to retail, office and SME tenants.

Product overview

Uplace is a real estate developer offering a portfolio of mixed-use and residential development projects across Belgium. The company operates two main product lines: BROEKLIN (circular workshop district combining retail, offices, SME space, leisure, culture and urban farming on a large scale in Brussels/Machelen) and Hof van Saeys (urban residential renewal in Dendermonde). Additionally, Uplace has developed specialized sports facilities such as Belfius Basecamp for Club Brugge. The company positions itself as providing smart and sustainable solutions for real estate challenges, developing living environments where housing, working and relaxation coexist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BROEKLIN: Mixed-use sustainable urban district project in Machelen/Brussels North area featuring retail, offices, KMO spaces, culture, and leisure on 12.5 hectares. Investment of 500 million euros.
• Hof van Saeys

Products and services

• BROEKLIN BROEKLIN is a circular workshop district development project in Machelen/Brussels. The 153,250 m² project on 12.5 hectares integrates sustainable retail, flexible workspaces, manufacturing, education, culture, recreation, and an urban farm. Features include 55,000 m² retail (200+ shops), 11,500 m² food & beverage (50+ concepts with farm-to-table city farm), 12,500 m² leisure, cultural temple with 1,600 seats, 25,000 m² offices, 32,250 m² innovation-focused SME space, and 3,000 m² urban farm. The project sets a new ecological standard for Flanders with 5 hectares of solar panels, no fossil fuels, and sustainable water management. Total private investment: 500 million euros.
• Hof van Saeys Hof van Saeys is an urban renewal project in the heart of Dendermonde next to the historic Benedictine abbey. The project comprises 103 residential units (apartments for various demographics including seniors, singles, and families), a ground-floor health center with preventive care, retail/commercial spaces on the ground level, and public green space. Features include 306 underground and 40 above-ground bike stalls, 129 public car parking spaces with car sharing, and Mathildelaan cycling/walking street connecting Oude Vest and Dijkstraat. Water stream 't Vaardeken is being reopened.
• Belfius Basecamp Club Brugge Training complex for Club Brugge players, staff, and employees located in Knokke-Heist. The sustainable and smart design features timeless basic materials (concrete, wood, glass) reflecting Club values. Includes indoor artificial turf field, high-tech fitness room, 37 bedrooms, press room, and four practice fields.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,250 new jobs created by BROEKLIN project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Cushman & WakefieldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 May 2025Cushman & Wakefield, led by Kurth Marissens (Partner and Head of Shopping Centre Belgium), serves as exclusive retail leasing broker for BROEKLIN Brussels. Previously involved in first version of project where 60% of available space was successfully pre-leased. Handles commercial tenant acquisition for 55,000 m² retail and 11,500 m² F&B spaces.
• Goeman VastgoedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 May 2025Local real estate broker in Dendermonde managing buyer waiting list for Hof van Saeys residential project and distributing local gift cards to support nearby merchants.
• CordeelcoreOthers · 17 September 2021Cordeel from Temse serves as main contractor for Hof van Saeys project. Responsible for construction including cofferdam installation for underground parking.
• CordeoncoreOthers · 21 April 2021Cordeel from Temse serves as main contractor for Hof van Saeys project in Dendermonde. CEO Kevin De Hainaut stated the company is proud to realize this prestigious project on the historic site, targeting delivery by summer 2023.
• VOKAmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021VOKA (Flemish business association) joined coalition supporting BROEKLIN project. CEO Hans Maertens sees BROEKLIN as flagship of post-corona recovery, urging government to issue permits quickly.
• UNIZOmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021UNIZO (SME association) joined coalition supporting BROEKLIN, represented by Danny Van Assche (Managing Director). Recognized project adds sustainable and circular concept with extra space for SMEs, education and training, distinct from traditional shopping center.
• Bond Beter LeefmilieumoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021Environmental movement Bond Beter Leefmilieu participated in shaping BROEKLIN through extensive dialogue process. Erik Grietens recognizes major differences from former Uplace project and endorses circular economy approach.
• VUBminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021Vrije Universiteit Brussel professor Elvira Haezendonck conducted regional economic impact study showing BROEKLIN will create approximately 3,250 new jobs.
• A Seat At The TableminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021Social non-profit A Seat At The Table, founded by Youssef Kobo, will establish ASATT Academy in BROEKLIN to help connect disadvantaged youth with Belgian business leadership.
• Brussels PhilharmonicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021Brussels Philharmonic, led by General Director Gunther Broucke, supports BROEKLIN project that aims to reconnect consumers with the production process, inspiring cultural sector innovation.
• POM (Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2021Provincial Development Company of Flemish-Brabant joined broad coalition supporting BROEKLIN project for regional socio-economic development.
• Stad DendermondecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Public-private partnership with Stad Dendermonde for Hof van Saeys urban renewal project on former abbey school site. City committed to purchasing 130 parking spaces in rotation parking.
• Alexander D'HooghecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Professor Alexander D'Hooghe developed the circular working-shop district concept for BROEKLIN. Since 2018, Uplace has worked with him leading extensive stakeholder dialogue resulting in the new sustainable BROEKLIN project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Klépierre: Pan-European retail-led real estate operator with shopping centers across the continent. Broad incumbent competitor for retail tenant relationships and capital partners in BROEKLIN's catchment.
• Goodman Group: Australian-listed global logistics real estate developer that acquired Uplace's predecessor Eurinpro in 2006. Comparable through shared DNA in Benelux industrial/logistics real estate development.
• Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: European-listed giant operating large mixed-use retail and office destinations across continental Europe. Overlaps with BROEKLIN's retail-anchored mixed-use positioning but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• Immobel: Belgian-listed real estate developer focused on mixed-use, residential, and office developments across Belgium and neighboring markets. Closest direct peer to Uplace by geography, project type, and developer profile.
• Retail Estates: Belgian-listed REIT specializing in retail and mixed-use properties, co-founded by Bart Verhaeghe in the late 1990s. Directly comparable by asset class and Benelux geography.
• Wereldhave: Dutch-listed investor/developer of mixed-use retail and office centers in Belgium, Netherlands, and France. Comparable in delivering large-scale mixed-use urban projects with retail-anchored programming.
• WDP (Warehouses De Pauw): Belgian-listed logistics real estate investor that took over Goodman-era logistics assets in the region. Comparable given Uplace's lineage through Eurinpro, which built the European custom warehouse market.
• Intervest Offices & Warehouses: Belgian-listed real estate investor in offices and warehouses, formerly Siref co-founded by Uplace's chairman. Comparable by Belgian real estate focus and office/logistics portfolio overlap.

Regional players

• BESIX Group: Belgian construction and real estate development group with mixed-use and large-scale project capability across Benelux. Comparable by Belgian geography and integrated development/construction model.
• CFE (Compagnie d'Entreprises CFE): Belgian-listed construction and real estate group operating across Belgium, Luxembourg, and Central Europe. Comparable by Belgian real estate development activity and project scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UplaceBelgium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uplace
• Instagraminstagram.com/uplace_be

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Uplace