Netherlands: Protesters storm Amsterdam data centre construction site

Around 100 demonstrators entered a construction site in Amsterdam's Sloterdijk district, protesting against a Microsoft data center project. Activists scaled fences and displayed banners, criticizing the project's environmental impact and electricity consumption. Police intervened after the mayor ordered the protest to end, resulting in several arrests. The project, involving three towers and over $1 billion in investment, has sparked concerns about its energy use, with claims that it could consume as much electricity as all Amsterdam households combined. The protest is part of a broader international campaign against large data centers, with similar demonstrations planned across Europe. Both Microsoft and Pure Data Centres acknowledged the right to protest but urged against unlawful actions.