# Microsoft data centre site in Amsterdam cleared of activists

> Activists occupied the Microsoft data centre building site in Amsterdam on Friday morning. By the afternoon, riot police had cleared it and arrested demonstrators who refused to leave.

Society · published 2026-11-06 16:58 · https://nlnow.nl/a/police-clear-activists-from-microsoft-data-centre-site-in-amsterdam/

The ME (riot police) entered a building site in Amsterdam's western port (westelijke haven) on Friday and cleared it by the afternoon. Activists had occupied the site that morning. Microsoft is building a data centre there.

Police said they were arresting dozens of demonstrators who would not leave the site voluntarily. Several police vehicles drove onto the site, and officers dragged some demonstrators away.

The site is in the port area in the west of the city. By the afternoon the occupation had ended and the building site was cleared.

The action group Geef Tegengas also occupied the site earlier this summer.

## Background

- **ME (Mobiele Eenheid)**: The Mobile Unit (ME) is the riot police unit of the Dutch National Police (Politie). It is a specialised group of officers trained and equipped to maintain public order, handle demonstrations and disturbances, and intervene where people are blocking or occupying a location. It is deployed by the police when a situation needs a larger, coordinated response than regular patrols can provide.

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