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The Dutch municipalities of Amsterdam and Haarlemmermeer have called an immediate stop to the construction of datacentres in the region, while a new policy is established. According to the aldermen involved, datacentres take up a lot of space and, because of their high energy consumption, place a large burden on the electricity grid. The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA) is now the largest in Europe in terms of the number and size of datacentres. Around Amsterdam, there are at least 33 datacentres within a radius of 20km. The municipalities of Amsterdam and Haarlemmermeer recognise that datacentres have now become indispensable facilities for almost all residents, companies and institutions, but denounce the space occupied by the buildings and the pressure they place on the energy network. “At the moment, municipalities have hardly any instruments at their disposal to control where the datacentres are located, or what requirements they have to meet,” said Marieke van Doorninck, alderman for sustainability and spatial development...