The Netherlands, widely known for its tulips, windmills and cheese, is also an important player in another area: the data center market. The Dutch data center market, and Amsterdam in particular, is a globally important market due to its strategic geographical location, advanced digital infrastructure and strong commitment to sustainability.
Despite growth, the Dutch data center market is affected by high energy costs, competition for skilled talent, limited land availability for expansion, grid congestion, and regulatory constraints related to environmental impact. It faces various challenges, including the constraints of Given the growing global demand for data centres, these challenges are straining the country’s ability to meet growth expectations, which is essential to maintain the Netherlands’ competitiveness in this sector.
One of the current obstacles to the growth of the industry is the lack of suitable locations in the Netherlands. Especially since the Dutch government has imposed new rules on hyperscale data centers and the City of Amsterdam has issued a preliminary decision restricting the development of new data center projects. .
In addition, amendments to the legislation on the quality of the physical environment and the rules for the performance of tasks and authorities (Bethrut Quarite LieformgevingWith the exception of a few locations in the cities of Het Hogeland (e.g. Eemshaven) and the cities of Kloon, Netherlands (e.g. Agriport A7), hyperscale data centers are not permitted in the Netherlands (with effect from January 1, 2024). It will not be.
In this context, hyperscale data center means a computer center or data center of more than 10 hectares and an electrical connection load of 70 MW, as well as other functional support activities carried out at the same location.
The amended Decree only applies to: new Hyperscale data center.To do do not have Applies to hyperscale data centers that already existed or were permitted to be constructed at the time this Act entered into force.
The City of Amsterdam also plans to introduce further restrictions in relation to new data center development.
It is actually based on the recently published Draft Comprehensive Zoning Plan for Amsterdam Data Centers (Ontwerp Paraple Best Stemming Plan Data Center Amsterdam) and the draft policy regulation “City of Amsterdam Data Center Location Policy 2020-2030, First Revised Edition” (Concept beleidsregels “Amsterdam 2020-2030 data center survey, accurate information”), the ability to build an expanded data center of up to 670 MVA in the city of Amsterdam will be blocked. No further data center construction or expansion will be permitted unless (a) it is in the interest of Amsterdam and (b) the data center does not cause further grid congestion. The “good news” is that data centers with a footprint of 2,000 square meters and connectivity of 5 MVA or more are exempt from this supposed limit.
Before the planned restrictions were adopted, municipalities were required to organize a six-week consultation to give third parties the opportunity to comment. That period has passed, so we are waiting for the outcome of the process and how the envisaged plan will be implemented. to be continued.
