AMSTERDAM — Dutch police detained between 150 and 200 demonstrators Friday after activists forced their way onto the construction grounds of a planned Microsoft data center in Amsterdam, authorities and media outlets reported.
Several hundred demonstrators converged on the facility site in the city’s Westpoort and Sloterdijk industrial area. While members of a broader environmental coalition remained outside the perimeter fence, direct-action protesters broke through security barriers, climbed a construction crane, lit flares and affixed balloons to heavy machinery, according to reports from Al Jazeera and The Guardian.
Clashes on the Construction Grounds
Police officers moved in to clear the area, leading to physical confrontations. Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that authorities acknowledged using force after failing to prevent demonstrators from occupying the grounds. Dutch police stated that one officer sustained minor injuries, while participants reported that law enforcement deployed tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to breach the perimeter.
The direct action was organized by the Dutch group Geef Tegengas, meaning Push Back. Activist Nathan Timmer told local broadcaster AT5 that the occupation sought to halt the facility entirely, arguing against the massive computing resources dedicated to commercial artificial intelligence and military technology.
Another group representative, Roos Molenaar, criticized the infrastructure development for consuming local resources, telling The Guardian that “this datacentre is gulping up our drinking water to make the rich even richer.” Banners hung by protesters at the location also cited Microsoft’s technical contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Israeli military, The Guardian reported.
By late Friday afternoon, officers were escorting remaining demonstrators from the property, local media reported.
Backlash Expands Across Europe
The Amsterdam clash formed part of a coordinated two-day mobilization called “Stop Dirty Data Centres,” targeting high-consumption computing hubs across 15 European nations, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain.
Outside the Dutch capital, demonstrations remained peaceful but widespread. In Germany, activists gathered outside a computing hub on Berlin’s periphery. “We want to put a stop to this blind construction of data centres around Germany, regardless of any environmental concerns,” Caro Weber, a spokeswoman for the German protest, said in comments reported by Al Jazeera.
Roughly 100 people rallied outside the Polish parliament in Warsaw to oppose planned projects in nearby communities, while additional gatherings took place in Bristol, England, and Zagreb, Croatia. The coalition, which includes chapters of Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, stated that although it did not organize the Dutch site breach, public pushback is growing as communities feel excluded from rapid zoning and permitting decisions.
Tech Giants and Site Owners Respond
Microsoft acknowledged the demonstration in Amsterdam, stating that the company prioritizes public safety.
“We understand that people feel strongly about the project, and we respect their right to express those views peacefully. However, we do not condone any actions that are unlawful or that put people’s safety at risk,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.
Pure Data Centres, the developer and owner of the site, echoed those safety concerns. The company noted that entering an active building zone is illegal and dangerous, while urging participants to vacate the premises and enter formal dialogue over their concerns.
European governments have generally encouraged data center construction to foster local tax bases and maintain digital parity with infrastructure in the United States and China. However, mounting electricity demands, heavy cooling-water usage, and scrutiny over worker conditions have turned the projects into flashpoints. In the United States, voters approved nearly every local data center moratorium on ballots during this week’s midterm elections, according to The Guardian.
Organizers across Europe indicated that demonstrations against data centers are scheduled to continue through Saturday, while Dutch authorities continue processing those detained on trespassing allegations.
