Microsoft Data Centre Site Breached by Amsterdam Protesters
More than 100 activists entered a Microsoft data centre construction site in Amsterdam on Friday, climbing cranes and calling for a halt to large-scale projects. The protest opened two days of planned actions across 16 countries. The dispute centers on data centres’ demands for electricity and water, while Microsoft and the project’s owner said they support peaceful expression and dialogue.
More than 100 activists breached a Microsoft data centre construction site in Amsterdam on Friday, November 6, as campaigners began two days of protests against the resource demands of AI infrastructure. The activists climbed cranes and called for a pause in large-scale construction.
The Amsterdam action was among demonstrations announced in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday by the Stop Dirty Data Centres coalition, which brings together environmental groups and digital rights campaigns. The dispute has direct stakes for communities near proposed facilities, where campaigners say data centres can put pressure on electricity and water supplies.
Protesters marched arm in arm before entering the site, hanging balloons and dancing as police stood by. Some carried placards with the message, “Screw your datacentre”.
“These data centres are destroying our world. It's becoming uninhabitable because of all the resources they consume. That's why we're here today,” protester Sam van der Beek said.
Why are activists opposing data centre construction?
Campaigners argue that data centres compete with housing and businesses for scarce resources, threaten climate goals and concentrate power in private and large technology companies. They have also raised concerns about job losses and possible risks to personal and national security.
The coalition says it is not seeking to close existing facilities or oppose progress. It is calling for major construction to stop until governments set clearer rules.
That demand puts local concerns against the growing need for computing capacity. Technology companies say data centres support artificial intelligence and cloud computing and provide critical infrastructure for businesses, governments and consumers.
What did Microsoft and the site owner say?
Microsoft said it understood that people had strong feelings about the project and respected peaceful protest, but did not condone unlawful actions. The site’s owner, Pure Data Centres, said it remained committed to engaging with local stakeholders.
“We respectfully ask those on site to leave safely and engage with us in dialogue about the development and any concerns they may have,” Pure Data Centres said. The company plans to invest more than $1 billion and is backed by Brookfield-owned Oaktree.
The protest came as European governments face competing demands: expand AI capacity to keep pace with the United States and Asia, while maintaining public protections and environmental controls. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said Europe needed more data centres to support AI, but cautioned that development must be handled carefully.
“AI, of course, is a super important technology and we need to have our own capacity,” Virkkunen said. She also said citizens should be able to trust that projects would not drive up energy bills, cause blackouts or damage the environment.
Actions announced elsewhere include a march in Dublin, a protest outside parliament in Warsaw and a demonstration against a different Microsoft data centre in Denmark. The Netherlands has about 200 data centres planned, under construction or in operation.
