Micromachined reference electrodes for use in miniaturized electrochemical sensors, and methods for fabricating such reference electrodes and electrochemical sensors, for example, as a part of a microfluidic system, are disclosed. Electrochemical measurements allow for inexpensive detection of a wide variety of (bio-)chemical compounds in solution. The reference electrode is one of the main parts of an electrochemical cell. The reference electrode, from which no current is drawn, has a stable, constant potential.