Too much information: Amsterdam hits pause on data-centre boom

Amsterdam reckons it has more data centres than any other major city in the world, and that’s turned out to be too much of a good thing.

The Dutch capital, which lured tech companies with attractive taxes and relatively cheap electricity, is halting the setting up of any more data centres until the end of the year, saying the speed with which they’ve opened is putting an untenable strain on its property market and power networks.

It is necessary to take a break and formulate policy first, so that we can get a better grip on the location of data centres, said Mari tte Sedee, Alderman for Spatial Development, Environment and Agricultural Affairs in Haarlemmermeer, a municipality southwest of Amsterdam.