Get Out! Dutch Farmers tell Tech Giant

Microsoft’s Dutch Data Center Causing Controversy

In recent years, the Netherlands has become a very attractive location for technology companies to establish data centers. This is mostly because of the temperate climates, an abundance of green energy, and the convergence of European internet cables.

According to WIRED, there are around 200 data centers in the Netherlands most of which are renting out space to various companies. However, these data centers are sometimes too ‘small’ for some of the world’s largest companies.

This has led to the construction of enormous “hyperscalers.” A hyperscale is a large data center, generally spanning at least 10,000 square feet, set up to service a single company. Microsoft and Google are two companies that have built hyperscalers in the Netherlands. These buildings are taking up a lot of farmland which is becoming a controversial matter in the Netherlands.

The country also finds itself in a nitrogen crisis at the moment which makes the construction of these hyperscalers even more controversial. At the moment, the Netherlands produces four (4!) times more nitrogen than the EU’s average. The major producers of nitrogen in the country are cars, agriculture, and heavy building machinery. This has led to companies building said data centers in rural areas which creates tension between the company and local farmers since they are occupying their land.

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In a bid to reduce nitrogen emissions, the Dutch government is persuading farmers to reduce livestock herds or abandon the industry altogether. As you can imagine, this was met with an uproar and protests from the farmers.

Another measure employed by the government is to halt thousands of building projects. By doing so, the government is requesting that all construction projects apply for permits which will prove they would not worsen the nitrogen crisis.

Now here’s the problem, with construction projects halted until they acquire permits, the construction of Microsoft’s newest data center is still proceeding despite not having a permit. While all other projects in the region have halted, including those by local farmers, there’s a sense that Microsoft has jumped the queue; WIRED reports.

These tensions have led to a recent altercation between a Microsoft security guard and Lars Ruiter, a local councilor. Ruiter was physically assaulted by the guard outside the half-finished data center when he requested to see the construction site.