Microsoft data centre in Amsterdam faced breach from angry protestors in Amsterdam as they broke into the construction site. Activist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the "Stop Dirty Data ‌Centres" coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction. Some carried placards with messages reading: "Screw your datacentre".




Responding to protests, Microsoft said that it understood that people had strong feelings about the project and respected their right to express them peacefully but did not condone any unlawful actions.




Protests planned across 16 countriesActivist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the "Stop Dirty Data Centers" coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction. In Amsterdam on Friday, more than 100 activists gathered at the construction site of a Microsoft AI data centre, marching arm in arm before breaking into the site, climbing cranes, hanging balloons and dancing while police stood by. Some carried placards with messages reading: "Screw your datacenter."




Site owner Pure Data Centers, which plans to invest more than $1 billion and is backed by Brookfield-owned Oaktree, said it was committed to engagement with local stakeholders. "We respectfully ask those on site to leave safely and engage with us in dialogue about the development and any concerns they may have," it said. Other planned actions include a march in Dublin, a protest outside the parliament building in Warsaw, and a demonstration against a different Microsoft data centre in Denmark. [...] Stop Dirty Data Centers says it is not anti-progress or calling for existing data centers to be closed but that major construction should be halted until governments establish clearer rules.




The Netherlands has about 200 data centres either planned, under construction or ​in operation.




What 'Stop Dirty Data Centers' coalition says on its websiteOn 6-7 November 2026 we are taking action across Europe to say Stop Dirty Data Centres . Local communities are rising up to stop dirty data centres where they live. We will unite and exercise our democratic rights to speak out, assemble, and protest to hold elected officials to account. We’re calling for an immediate moratorium on large data centres in Europe!




Making a call for action, the group says, "The explosion of AI data centres across our towns and cities is taking a toll that we can no longer afford. Join us and act now to prevent the irreparable harms data centres pose to the wellbeing of people and planet."




"By coordinating our actions, we demonstrate the power we have to halt the unchecked expansion of AI data centres and prevent our democracy being taken hostage by big tech industry interests. Together we are calling on elected leaders to implement moratoria at local, national and European level that pause data centre construction until we, the people, have democratically decided what is needed to ensure AI and data centres serve people and the planet, not private greed," it adds.