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Amsterdam police said 218 people were arrested on suspicion of trespassing after protesters entered a data center construction site leased to Microsoft on November 6. All have been released. The protest was part of a wider European campaign against large data centers, amid disputes over electricity demand, water use and local impacts.
Amsterdam police said 218 people were arrested after protesters entered a data center construction site leased to Microsoft in the city’s western port area on Friday, November 6. Police said Saturday that all those arrested have been released; the protest brought a dispute over data center growth and resource use onto a major European construction site.
Protesters entered the site in Westpoort, where British developer Pure DC is building a data center project called AMS01. Police and local media reported that a fence was cut, some protesters climbed a crane and the building roof, and banners opposing AI and Microsoft were displayed. Riot police later cleared the site after demonstrators were given time to leave. One officer was slightly injured, according to police reporting cited by Dutch outlets.
The arrest count rose during the day: police initially reported one arrest, then estimated between 150 and 200. A police spokesperson told Dutch news agency ANP the next day that the final total was 218 people suspected of trespassing. The site owner filed a complaint alleging trespass, vandalism and burglary. Police also said some people carried items they believed had been taken from the site. These are allegations, and no court ruling is reported in the source material.
Accounts of the crowd size differ. A Reuters witness saw around 100 people on the site; organisers said several hundred took part, and a campaigner quoted by Bloomberg put the total at about 400. Those figures refer to different accounts and have not been reconciled. The protest was associated with a European campaign by Stop Dirty Data Centres, which is calling for a moratorium on large data centers.
Amsterdam arrests bring data center debate to the site
The protest linked local concerns over power, water and land use with Europe’s push to expand computing capacity. Police said all 218 people arrested were released.
What happened in Westpoort
Protesters entered the AMS01 construction site, where Pure DC is building a project planned for Microsoft as tenant.
Police and local media reported a cut fence, protesters on a crane and roof, and banners opposing AI and Microsoft.
After demonstrators were given time to leave, riot police cleared the site. One officer was slightly injured.
Police said the 218 people arrested on suspicion of trespassing had been released by November 7.
A major planned build
Pure DC describes AMS01 as a large project in Amsterdam’s western port area.
Three towers
The developer says each tower will be 85 metres high, with 26 megawatts of data hall capacity.
78 megawatts total
Pure DC says the project will have its own substation.
Non-potable cooling
The developer says cooling will use non-potable water from the port rather than drinking water.
The wider European dispute
The campaign calls for a moratorium on large data centers, while the facilities support cloud services and AI systems.
- Electricity demand and pressure on power systems
- Water use, land use and local infrastructure
- Whether communities should host large facilities
- Computing for cloud services and AI
- Europe’s interest in expanding digital infrastructure
- Project specifications and resource claims from developers
What remains unresolved
The reporting leaves legal, project and campaign questions open.
| Question | What is known |
|---|---|
| Will anyone face charges? | No charging decisions are reported; release does not resolve the allegations. |
| What happens to the complaint? | The site owner alleges trespass, vandalism and burglary; no court ruling is reported. |
| How large was the protest? | Accounts range from around 100 people to several hundred and remain unreconciled. |
| What will AMS01 use? | Published power and water specifications are developer claims, not independently verified here. |
The Grid Is at the Center
The protest reflects a growing conflict over where Europe’s expanding computing capacity should be built and how its costs should be managed. The European Commission, citing the International Energy Agency, estimates that data centers used 70 terawatt-hours of electricity in the EU in 2024, with demand projected to reach 115 terawatt-hours by 2030. The figures indicate rising pressure on power systems, though they do not establish how much of that demand comes from AI.
For nearby communities, the debate also concerns water, land use and whether local infrastructure can support new facilities. For technology companies and users, data centers provide the computing capacity behind cloud services and AI systems. The Amsterdam dispute puts those local concerns alongside Europe’s interest in expanding its own digital infrastructure. The source material does not establish that the project caused higher household bills or reduced water availability.
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A Large Project in Westpoort
Pure DC says AMS01 will comprise three towers, each 85 metres high, with 26 megawatts of data hall capacity apiece, or 78 megawatts in total. The developer puts the investment at more than €1 billion and says the project will have its own substation. Microsoft is the planned tenant; it is not the builder.
Pure DC says the project’s cooling system will use non-potable water from the port rather than drinking water. The company also cites a design power usage effectiveness below 1.18, compared with a Dutch target of 1.2. These are the developer’s figures and claims; the available source material does not independently verify them. Amsterdam has said it has allowed no new large data centers since June 2025, according to the source material.
The Amsterdam action forms part of a campaign that has staged or listed events across Europe. Reuters reported actions in 16 countries, while organisers told the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse that activity took place in 15. The coalition’s website lists 85 events, including talks and walks as well as protests. The differing country counts and broad event total reflect different accounts and definitions.
““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.””
— Microsoft
Open Questions on the Site
It is not clear from the available reporting whether police will bring charges against any of the people arrested, or what the next steps will be in the site owner’s complaint. Release from custody does not resolve the allegations. Crowd estimates also remain disputed, and the reported country totals for the broader campaign differ by source.
The source material does not provide independent measurements of the project’s expected electricity or water use, nor does it establish the project’s final operating schedule. Pure DC’s published specifications describe its plans, but further independent or regulatory information would be needed to assess their effects on local infrastructure.
What Comes After the Arrests
Police and prosecutors may provide further information about the investigation and any decisions on charges. The site owner’s complaint could also lead to additional legal steps, but none are confirmed in the available reporting. The construction project’s schedule and any changes following the protest have not been reported.
The wider campaign is continuing to press for a moratorium on large data centers. Further demonstrations, local planning decisions and disclosures about power and water needs are likely to shape the debate, but the source material does not specify upcoming dates or decisions.
Key Questions
How many people were arrested in Amsterdam?
Police reported that 218 people were arrested on suspicion of trespassing after entering the construction site. Police said all had been released by November 7.
Who is building the data center?
Pure DC is the developer of the AMS01 project in Westpoort. Microsoft is the planned tenant, according to the source material.
What is the protest campaign demanding?
The Stop Dirty Data Centres coalition is calling for a moratorium on large data centers. Its campaign includes events across Europe, including talks and walks as well as site protests.
What remains unknown about the arrests?
The available reporting does not say whether any of the people arrested will face charges. The site owner has filed a complaint alleging trespass, vandalism and burglary, but those allegations have not been decided by a court.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
