Protesters entered a construction site in Amsterdam on Nov. 6 for a data center Reuters and Dutch broadcaster NOS identify as planned for Microsoft; the site action coincided with a wider European campaign over large projects’ environmental and social effects.
AT5, a local broadcaster, reported that police later estimated 150 to 200 people had been detained on suspicion of trespassing. NOS had reported one arrest earlier in the operation in connection with alleged obstruction of work, so the reports describe different points in the response.
Accounts of the site entry differ. Reuters reported that more than 100 activists gathered, while NOS said Geef Tegengas claimed several hundred people had entered. The accounts do not establish a single verified number of entrants.
The project is Pure Data Centres’ Westpoort campus in Sloterdijk. The developer describes a 5.68-acre site with three planned towers, each 85 meters tall, and 78 megawatts of combined capacity. Pure says the campus is fully leased, though its project page does not name the tenant; Reuters and NOS identify Microsoft as the customer. Pure says work on the data halls began in January 2026.
Pure plans to invest more than €1 billion and projects more than 1,000 jobs during development, followed by about 80 permanent positions once the campus is complete. These are projections from the developer.
Stop Dirty Data Centres argues large projects should wait until communities and officials have examined their environmental and social effects. The Guardian reported that the coalition did not coordinate the site entry by Geef Tegengas. Its European days of action were scheduled to continue through Nov. 7.
Microsoft said it accepts peaceful protest but does not support unlawful conduct or activity that risks public safety. Pure said it remained available to discuss objections and urged demonstrators to leave the grounds safely.
