Climate
Activists break into Microsoft datacentre construction site in Amsterdam
November 6, 2026 at 07:27 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 4 hours
Protesters broke into a Microsoft datacentre construction site in Amsterdam on Friday, in an action separate from a Europe-wide campaign demanding a moratorium on new datacentres.
- Activists from the Dutch group Geef Tegengas climbed a crane, lit flares and hung banners at the Westpoort site, clashing with police.
- Police said they tried to prevent the occupation and used force, and that an officer was slightly injured, in a statement to broadcaster NOS.
- The Stop Dirty Data Centres coalition said it did not coordinate the break-in, and staged protests in Bristol, Berlin, Warsaw and Zagreb.
- Microsoft said it respects peaceful expression but does not condone unlawful actions; site owner Pure Data Centres asked those on site to leave safely.