Protest at Microsoft Data Center in Amsterdam: Hundreds Arrested

Police estimate that 150 to 200 protesters were arrested at the construction site of a Microsoft data center in Amsterdam. Activists entered the site on Plimsollweg on Friday, November 6. Their protest targets the growing power of tech companies and the space and energy demands of new data centers.

The arrested protesters are suspected of trespassing. Police said clashes broke out before the occupation, after protesters were stopped while carrying equipment including climbing gear and an angle grinder.

Members of Geef Tegengas climbed over the fences and cut an opening in the perimeter fence. Some activists climbed a crane and scaffolding, an ANP reporter at the scene said.

Outside the site, Fossielvrij NL held a separate demonstration. The organization is calling for a pause on new data center construction, so the public can first have a say in how AI is used and how it affects their surroundings. Fossielvrij had voiced support for Geef Tegengas’s action in advance.

Microsoft said it respects the right to peaceful protest but rejects unlawful or unsafe actions. Developer Pure Data Centres urged those present to leave the site safely and offered to talk, according to comments gathered by Reuters.

The complex is being built in Westpoort and, according to Pure DC’s project information, will consist of three 85-meter towers. Pure DC is developing the data center; Microsoft will be its tenant. That distinction matters: questions about construction and the site’s local impact concern the developer, while Microsoft decides which services it will offer there.

Pure DC says the complex will have a capacity of 78 megawatts across three buildings. The developer says its on-site substation is already operational. That figure describes the complex’s capacity, not its annual electricity consumption. How heavily the servers are used will help determine how much power they actually need.

The company says it is investing more than €1 billion. Construction is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs, while the completed complex is projected to employ around 80 people permanently. These are the developer’s estimates, not confirmed benefits for Amsterdam residents. Pure DC’s project page does not break down how much of the future capacity will serve AI applications versus other cloud services.

Decisions about how electricity is allocated to AI infrastructure can shape the grid for years. Liander calculated that Amsterdam’s stricter data center policy means three planned substations will no longer be needed. The grid operator estimated the savings at around €125 million. That calculation concerns city policy as a whole, not the individual project on Plimsollweg.

The Dutch Data Center Association, which represents the sector, argues that data centers can help the electricity grid. The industry group points to batteries, flexible grid connections and shifting AI training to off-peak hours. Whether a specific project uses these options depends on agreements with the grid operator.

Construction also requires government approvals. For example, the North Sea Canal Area Environment Agency, acting on behalf of the province of North Holland, published a permit for the first tower. The decision dates from July 2025.

Meanwhile, the city warned on Friday about a forged residents’ letter about a data center on Donauweg. It claims, among other things, that 30,000 homes cannot be built and that residents should expect power cuts. The letter bears the city’s logo but did not come from the municipality.

Amsterdam says the claims are false. Alderman Alexander Scholtes said he understands concerns about large tech companies but condemned the spread of misinformation under the municipality’s name. The city’s warning does not say who distributed the letter.