"Realizing the Value of Data Centers After the Fire"... Amsterdam's Turnaround [Coexistence Strategies in the AIDC Era] ⑮

VI. Lessons from the Fire: From Conflict to Coexistence

Amsterdam, a Core Digital Hub of Europe

School, Hospital, and Transport Disruptions Follow Data Center Fire

Renewed Focus on the Necessity of Urban Essential Infrastructure

Editor's NoteIn the era of artificial intelligence (AI), the government has announced its plans to establish a total of 18.4GW of data centers by 2035 as part of three major megaprojects, aiming to position these as future growth engines for the nation. Data centers, which were once merely facilities for supporting IT services, web applications (apps), and data storage and sharing, are now evolving into industrial platforms that produce and supply AI computational resources. However, despite a general consensus that data centers are a critical infrastructure determining the country's industrial competitiveness, there are still many issues to resolve before the expansion of AI data centers (AIDC) can proceed. The Asia Business Daily has investigated overseas cases in Finland, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands—countries that have skillfully addressed challenges such as electricity supply, permitting, water use, and resident conflict—seeking viable solutions for AI data centers to coexist harmoniously with local communities in Korea.

"A major fire broke out at a large data center in Almere, near Amsterdam, turning the entire city into chaos. Ironically, this incident made us realize just how valuable data centers really are."

In May, a fire erupted at the large-scale colocation data center 'Almere Center.' The blaze started in the rear technical equipment room and took about 12 hours to control, with the main fire finally contained by 9 p.m. that evening. The major fire severely damaged the facility overall, destroying the main power supply network, backup emergency generators, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units. Due to the thick smoke, the government issued emergency alerts recommending residents evacuate and close their windows.

Stein Grove, director of the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA), pictured during an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 23rd of last month (local time). Photo by Se Sojung.

Stein Grove, Director of the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA), said in a recent interview with The Asia Business Daily, "Because of the data center fire, students at Utrecht University couldn't log into the website or use the attendance system, which led to widespread confusion. The statistics office and hospitals also went offline, and even ferry services—as well as bus and tram dispatch communications in the Utrecht area—were rendered inoperable due to server failures. This really made us experience firsthand how essential data centers are." He went on to explain that the large-scale data center fire became a turning point for reviewing disaster recovery systems within Europe.

Data Center Shutdowns Amid Rapid Grid Saturation and Resident Opposition

Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a key hub with Europe's largest internet exchange node (AMS-IX), but public perception of data centers turned negative due to rapid grid saturation and intense opposition from residents, leading to the declaration of a moratorium (temporary suspension) on new centers in 2019. Criticism about data centers draining the nation’s electricity grew, with continued protests against constructing hyperscale (super-large) data centers. The national power transmission network (TenneT) reached its limit.

Eventually, in 2021–2022, plans to build Meta’s hyperscale data center in Zeewolde, near Amsterdam, were scrapped following local referenda and protests. The Dutch central government suspended all new permits in Amsterdam for one year and subsequently tightened regulations, restricting new developments to areas that strictly meet energy efficiency requirements. Under the Spatial Planning Act, the Dutch government prohibited construction of new hyperscale data centers with capacities of 70MW or more, or occupying land of 10 hectares or more, nationwide—except for two designated zones in the north.

Stein Grove, Director of the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA), interviewed by The Asia Business Daily on the 23rd of last month (local time). Photo by Sojeong Suh.

Director Grove stated, "To obtain new permits, it is now mandatory to reuse waste heat for district heating, achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2 or lower, and meet standards for cooling water recirculation. While environmental concerns initially led to strict data center regulations, this latest fire made citizens reconsider the necessity of data centers." He explained that, while there had been intense conflict regarding new data center construction, the large fire that paralyzed the city left residents keenly aware of the value of digital infrastructure and learning how to coexist with it.

The Amsterdam data center market is undergoing fundamental restructuring. Faced with limitations in the power grid and stricter environmental regulations, the market is shifting toward high-density, sustainability-focused data centers. Due to supply constraints, hyperscale facilities needed for AI training—which require vast land and large power—are moving to the north of the Netherlands, while Amsterdam itself is evolving into a hub for financial infrastructure, edge cloud, and waste-heat-integrated urban infrastructure.

High-Rise Tower Data Centers: Embracing Aesthetic Features

Vertical architecture and eco-friendly design are distinguishing features of Amsterdam. Due to land shortages, Amsterdam opted for high-rise, multi-story tower data centers with three to five or more floors, rather than the sprawling, single-story campus-style centers common in the U.S. or Nordic countries. Equinix’s data center (AM4) at Amsterdam Science Park stands as a leading example of an eco-friendly, sustainable data center. The 72-meter-tall, 12-story vertical tower significantly reduces land use, and its exterior, composed of aluminum triangular profiles, challenges conventional perceptions of what a data center should look like.

Equinix's data center (AM4) located in Amsterdam Science Park is recognized as a leading example of an eco-friendly and sustainable data center. It features a 72-meter-tall, 12-story vertical tower structure designed by architect Benthem Crouwel. Source: Benthem Crouwel.

The entire building is 12 stories high, with eight floors actually used as server data halls (computer rooms). The design not only enhances its visual appeal, but also facilitates natural airflow for cooling equipment’s intake and exhaust. The Equinix data center uses generous floor heights, making it possible to remodel the facility into laboratories, offices, or residential spaces if the data center’s role diminishes in the future. In addition, the center procures all of its electricity through power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 100% renewable energy, including wind and solar power both within and outside the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, where conflicts with residents have occurred, green construction is considered a crucial factor for data center success.

Director Grove emphasized, "The Netherlands, as Europe’s digital gateway, connects to the world with subsea cables and enjoys abundant renewable energy—including onshore and offshore wind and solar. However, power grid congestion is the biggest issue. In the end, expanding data centers fundamentally depends on the growth of the energy sector and infrastructure; these must go hand in hand over the long term."

This series was supported by the Press Promotion Fund, created from government ad fees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.