Datacentres win support, but scarcity remains a sticking point
The sector highlights the importance of computing power, while energy, water, space and grid capacity limit what the Netherlands can accommodate.
The debate over datacentres is shifting from whether the Netherlands needs them to which datacentres are socially and economically responsible. Supporters stress the growing need for AI computing power; governments and critics point to pressure on the electricity grid, water use and scarce space.
According to the Dutch Data Center Association, the Netherlands had more than 1.5 gigawatts of datacentre capacity at the end of 2025. In the industry association’s baseline scenario, this could rise to 2.8 gigawatts by 2031. That expectation is not a measurement of future consumption, but a model-based estimate by the sector.
The debate is therefore not only about servers. Datacentres also require connections to the electricity grid, cooling facilities, land and staff. In areas where the grid is already full, a new major consumer may compete with homes, industry and other businesses for available capacity.
Supporters argue that datacentres provide the infrastructure underpinning cloud computing and artificial intelligence. PwC chief economist Barbara Baarsma writes that computing power is needed for applications including maintenance, mobility, energy and research. Without access to that infrastructure, Dutch start-ups could remain more dependent on a handful of global providers.
Opponents point out that datacentres create relatively few direct jobs in proportion to their electricity and land use. An analysis attributed by Computable to the sector gives a figure of about 8.6 jobs per megawatt for the Netherlands. That figure comes from an industry analysis and is not the same as a nationwide labour-market indicator.
Water use is also part of the debate. North Holland officials previously called for a stricter datacentre strategy after concerns arose about electricity, drinking water and space. This does not mean that every datacentre uses the same technology or the same amount of water; cooling and location make a difference.
The national government says that datacentres supplied the information on energy use that they were required to provide for European reporting. According to an amended statement, all data would be supplied from 2026 onwards. Transparency has therefore improved, but it has not yet been decided how the social costs should be weighed locally.
The political choice therefore does not lie between technology and stagnation. The question is which projects gain access to scarce infrastructure, what conditions apply to energy and water use, and how much say municipalities and provinces retain. For the tech sector, this means greater predictability if the rules are clear, but also stricter selection of new sites.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Datacentres use electricity, space and cooling facilities.
- The sector expects continued growth in demand for computing power.
- The government is working on more reporting on energy use.
- Provinces and municipalities are weighing the implications for the grid, water and space.
Left
Arguments Scarce energy, drinking water and space should first go to public services, housing and decarbonisation. Datacentres should only be permitted if their social benefits demonstrably outweigh their demands on public infrastructure.
Values Public direction, climate justice and the distribution of scarce resources.
Consequences Stricter permits and local conditions may slow growth, but give governments more control over water, energy and space.
Centre
Arguments The Netherlands needs digital infrastructure, but not every project is equally valuable. An institutional approach would select projects based on efficiency, transparency, waste heat, grid impact and demonstrable economic added value.
Values Proportionality, predictable rules and independent assessment.
Consequences Growth is likely to continue, but in fewer locations and with higher reporting and efficiency requirements.
Right
Arguments A strong digital economy requires room for investment and enterprise. If the Netherlands imposes too many restrictions, companies and innovation could move to other countries; problems with the electricity grid and water use should primarily be solved through technical and infrastructural means.
Values Economic growth, competitiveness and limited government intervention.
Consequences Faster expansion of the grid and permits could attract investment, but increases the risk that local scarcity is insufficiently taken into account afterwards.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article distinguishes between industry estimates, policy information and opinions. The main figures and the government’s response can be found in public sources.
- confirmed The Netherlands had more than 1.5 gigawatts of datacentre capacity at the end of 2025, and the sector estimates 2.8 gigawatts in 2031. — Computable attributes these figures to the DDA report. source
- confirmed PwC describes datacentres as infrastructure for AI and digital services. — This is the position of PwC chief economist Barbara Baarsma, clearly presented as such. source
- confirmed The national government says that datacentres met the requested energy-information requirements. — This is stated in the response to parliamentary questions. source
- confirmed Members of the North Holland provincial council called for the datacentre strategy to be tightened. — The province reports that the motion was adopted unanimously. source
Editor's note
The growth figures are an industry estimate; water and energy use varies by location and cooling technology. PwC’s and the industry’s arguments are positions, not independent assessments of the social benefits.Sources
- Nederland stuit op grenzen van datacentergroei — Computable
- Argumenten voor het bouwen van datacenters, ondanks de zorgen — PwC Nederland
- Antwoord op vragen over energieverbruik van hyperscale-datacenters — Tweede Kamer
- Besluiten Provinciale Staten Noord-Holland 7 september 2026 — Provincie Noord-Holland
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „datacenters kunstmatige intelligentie”
- RTL Nieuws — „datacenters kunstmatige intelligentie”
- FD — „datacenters kunstmatige intelligentie”