Today, the Dutch Data Center Association (DDA) presents the anniversary edition of the State of the Dutch Data Centers report during National Data Center Day. The report offers a unique overview of ten years of data center development in the Netherlands and shows how the sector has evolved into a cornerstone of our digital economy.
Market Outlook 2025: AI and Scale-up Drive Market Dynamics
The Dutch data center market continues to grow despite ongoing challenges related to grid congestion and permitting procedures. In 2024, the total colocation capacity reached 924 megawatts. For 2025, the sector expects a record investment of more than €1.4 billion. Increasingly, data center operators are building scalable colocation campuses to meet the rapidly growing demand for computing power driven by AI and cloud applications. At the same time, enterprise data centers are losing ground, as organizations increasingly opt for colocation or cloud infrastructure.
Regional Expansion: Groningen, South Holland, and North Brabant
While the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA) still accounts for approximately 70% of colocation capacity, growth is shifting toward regions such as Groningen, South Holland, and North Brabant. These regions often offer greater grid capacity, less complex permitting procedures, and better alignment with local economic ecosystems.
Sustainability: A Prerequisite
Dutch data centers are making significant strides in sustainability. The average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is projected to reach 1.25 in 2025, placing Dutch data centers among the European leaders in energy efficiency. Additionally, 55% of data center operators report investing in heat reuse. The use of local green energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) is also on the rise, along with participation in grid stabilization programs.
Progress on Climate Goals: Sector on Track
Most data centers are on track to meet the goals of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. As much as 99.9% of surveyed data centers already use green energy contracts. Since the electricity mix is not fully renewable at all times of the day, 81% of data centers expect to run entirely on renewable energy by 2030. Already, 64% of new facilities comply with the PUE standard of a maximum of 1.30. Innovative technologies such as Direct Liquid Cooling and battery systems are being explored or already implemented, and in the long term, hydrogen and SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) are also being considered.
Labor Market and Inclusion: Structural Growth Demands Talent
In 2024, more than 5,900 people were employed in Dutch data centers; this number is expected to grow to 7,710 by 2030. The sector is increasingly partnering with educational institutions and investing in diversity and inclusion.
National Data Center Day: Data Centers in the Spotlight
The report is traditionally published on National Data Center Day, an initiative by the DDA to raise public awareness of the importance of data centers. The first edition of State of the Dutch Data Centers 2025 is being presented today at Greenhouse Datacenters, in the presence of entrepreneurs, local governments, and provincial representatives.