On Friday, November 6, 2026, members of the Dutch activist group Geef Tegengas breached the construction site of a new Microsoft data center on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Approximately 100 individuals gained entry to the site, with some scaling a crane to unfurl banners reading "fuck AI" and "Microsoft powers genocide." The demonstration was part of a larger coordinated protest against data centers planned across several European countries on November 6 and 7.
A Reuters witness observed around 100 demonstrators entering the site, while a spokesperson for Geef Tegengas told local broadcaster AT5 that about 500 people had entered, with hundreds more remaining outside. Protesters gained access by breaking through a fence, and some climbed a construction crane, where they also set off flares. Riot police were deployed to the site near Sloterdijk, in Amsterdam's western port area, and made several arrests. Earlier in the day, police had halted the march as it approached the site, and the mayor subsequently banned the demonstration, leading protesters to attempt to break through police barricades.
Roos Molenaar, a spokesperson for Geef Tegengas, stated that the group would not accept Amsterdam being used for "the creation of AI slop and the facilitation of genocide," and criticized the data center for "gulping up our drinking water to make the rich even richer." The group also highlighted concerns that the facility would consume as much electricity as all households in Amsterdam combined and could delay the construction of 30,000 new homes. The project, which Microsoft will lease entirely, comprises three buildings, each 85 meters tall. Plans for the data center were initially submitted in 2016, preceding a ban on new data centers within Amsterdam city limits. The provincial government approved the project in January, a decision critics argue circumvents Dutch regulations for very large data centers. City officials have also warned that electricity grid constraints threaten plans for new housing and schools.
Microsoft acknowledged the demonstration at its Westpoort Amsterdam site. A company spokesperson stated that Microsoft understands people's strong feelings about the project and respects their right to peaceful expression. However, the company does not condone unlawful actions or those that put people's safety at risk. Pure Data Centres, the owner of the Amsterdam data center, issued a statement asking those on site to leave safely and engage in dialogue about the development.
This protest marks the latest in a series of actions against data centers in the region. In July, Extinction Rebellion activists threw balloons filled with acid and paint over the site's fence. The broader "Stop Dirty Data Centres" coalition, which organized Friday's actions, plans further protests across 16 European countries, including Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Italy, France, and the UK. Organizers are demanding an immediate moratorium on large data centers in Europe, citing environmental and social concerns.