Amsterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Several hundred activists, opposed to the construction of a Microsoft data center in Amsterdam, occupied the site on Friday, responding to a call for demonstrations over two days in Europe.

Published on: 06/11/2026 - 21:06

The Geef Tegengas collective, which campaigns for climate and justice, and the environmental group Fossielvrij took over the site, in the Sloterdijk district, interrupting construction for the day.

“In terms of energy security, this installation will consume as much energy as all the homes in Amsterdam combined. In terms of water security, it will consume an absurd amount of water,” Nathan Timmer, spokesperson for Geef Tegengas, told AFP.

Despite the presence of police, around a hundred activists managed to scale the fences and enter the construction site, from where they chanted slogans "The data center must disappear" and "Free Palestine", covering the walls under construction with graffiti against Microsoft.

According to Nathan Timmer, this data center could fuel war via artificial intelligence (AI) and "genocide" in Gaza, while worsening the climate crisis. “However, no one can explain why we need it, can they?” he denounced.

According to the Dutch agency ANP, the police arrested between 150 and 200 activists, with others leaving the scene voluntarily.

Contacted by AFP, Microsoft did not react.

The establishment of data centers, essential to the development of AI, has provoked waves of protest in several regions of the world.

A coalition of activist groups, called Stop Dirty Data Center, which advocates a pause in their construction, called for action on Friday and Saturday in many European countries.

© 2026 AFP

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