Located just off the pedestrian zone in the Grand-Rue, the Clervaux facility includes shared desks, a small lounge, a kitchenette, two meeting rooms, and restrooms. It can host up to 14 civil servants. Local mayor Georges Keipes welcomed the initiative, suggesting it could benefit not just Clervaux but the wider region: the presence of state employees might boost local commerce and inject new life into the town centre.
Theoretically, up to 1,000 civil servants living in northern Luxembourg or in nearby border areas of Belgium and Germany could make use of the facility. Civil Service Minister Serge Wilmes highlighted the environmental and time-saving advantages. By reducing commutes to Luxembourg City or other central offices, the initiative could lead to notable CO2 reductions – up to 26.2 tonnes per year if the space is used at full capacity across 200 working days.
The coworking space is open to civil servants from any department, provided their work is sufficiently digitised. While they won’t necessarily be collaborating with each other, they will be working in proximity within the same shared environment. The decision to launch in Schieren and Clervaux was largely practical, as both municipalities had space available. Wilmes added that the Ministry had sent letters to various municipalities asking about possible locations for coworking spaces, and Clervaux was one of those that responded positively.
The expansion of coworking facilities is part of the government’s 2023-2028 coalition programme. A third location will open in September 2025 between Dudelange and Bettembourg, offering 32 workstations, with another opening in Differdange early next year. By the end of 2026, the government expects to provide a total of 120 coworking desks for civil servants across the country.
Wilmes stated that the government aims to create a national network of such spaces, especially in densely populated areas or regions with significant commuter traffic. These shared offices are intended to complement – not replace – regular attendance at one’s official workplace. Civil servants will still be required to work at their main office at least two days a week.
Desks are bookable through an app, which also provides access to the building. While the site is well connected to public transport, there is ample parking nearby, including spaces rented by the state in a public car park.
Whether civil servants will adopt the new workspaces remains to be seen. Few were present during Friday’s launch – likely due to its timing on a Friday afternoon that also coincided with a long weekend.
