The activists made it on to the site by scaling barrier fences despite a police presence

Amsterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) - Several hundred activists opposed to the construction of a Microsoft data centre in Amsterdam occupied the site on Friday, responding to a call for a two-day protest across Europe.

The collective Geef Tegengas, which campaigns for climate and justice, and the environmental group Fossielvrij entered the construction site in the Sloterdijk district, halting work for the day.

“It’s so many things, so many struggles that come together in this data centre,” Geef Tegengas spokesman, Nathan Timmer, told AFP.

“This thing will use as much energy as all of the households in Amsterdam combined… this thing will use a ridiculous amount of water.”

Timmer, 30, also argued that the centre would be used “to facilitate AI warfare” and what he called the “genocide” in Gaza.

The activists made it on to the site by scaling barrier fences despite a police presence.

Once inside they shouted political slogans and sprayed anti-Microsoft messages on walls under construction.

Dutch news agency ANP reported that police arrested between 150 and 200 protesters. Other activists quit the site voluntarily.

AI data centres require large amounts of electricity – placing increased pressure on grids often still reliant on fossil fuels – and, in many cases, water to cool down hot computing equipment.

A backlash is growing worldwide against their environmental impact, and there are also concerns over noise, pollution, their appearance and how many jobs the facilities actually create.

A coalition of campaign groups called “Stop Dirty Data Centers” has been pushing for a pause in the construction of such sites and called for action on Friday and Saturday in European countries.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.