Protesters Break Into Microsoft Data Center in Amsterdam

On Friday, November 6, 2026, protesters occupied the construction site of a Microsoft data center in Amsterdam's Sloterdijk district, scaling barrier fences and climbing cranes despite police presence. According to DW.com, more than 100 activists gathered at the site, marching arm in arm before entering, with some dancing and carrying placards reading "Screw your data center." The action marked the opening of two days of planned protests across 16 European countries under the Stop Dirty Data Centres coalition.

The coalition, comprising over 100 rights groups from 15 European countries, called for an immediate moratorium on new large-scale data center projects until clearer rules governing their impact on local communities, public infrastructure, land, water and energy use are established. Organizers cited concerns about data centers' strain on electricity and water supplies, competition with housing and other businesses for resources, environmental damage, and threats to climate goals.

According to Euronews.com, the protests were timed following the US mid-term elections, where data centers and their environmental impact became a decisive issue. Owen Espley, coordinator of StopDirtyDataCentres.eu, stated that communities challenging data center projects are showing they can push back against Big Tech's expansion.

The Dutch activists, including the collective Geef Tegengas and environmental group Fossielvrij, occupied the site for the day, halting work. Nathan Timmer of Geef Tegengas told AFP the facility would use as much energy as all households in Amsterdam combined and a "ridiculous amount of water," adding it would facilitate AI warfare and what he called the "genocide" in Gaza. Police arrested between 150 and 200 protesters, while others left voluntarily.

Microsoft stated it respected people's right to peaceful expression but did not condone unlawful actions. Site owner Pure Data Centres Group, planning to invest over $1 billion (€890 million) in the project, urged protesters to leave safely and discuss their concerns.

The coalition emphasized it was not calling for existing data centers to close, but rather for governments to establish clearer rules before further large-scale construction proceeds. Planned actions included a march in Dublin, a protest outside Poland's parliament, and demonstrations against another Microsoft data center in Denmark, with additional protests scheduled across Europe on Saturday.

The Netherlands currently has about 200 data centers planned, under construction or operating. Annual investment in European data center projects has risen from €12 billion in 2020 to €25-26 billion this year, with total spending expected to reach €176 billion between 2026 and 2031, according to PwC's Global Data Centre Outlook 2026-2050.