Equinix Expands Amsterdam Footprint with Two New Data Centers, Faces Grid Constraints

Equinix, the global colocation and interconnection giant, is moving forward with the development of its tenth and eleventh data centers in the Zuidoost district of southern Amsterdam, Netherlands. The expansion underscores the company’s commitment to the FLAP-D market (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin), but also highlights the growing challenges of power availability in Europe’s densely populated digital hubs.

A draft decision approving the construction of the two facilities, designated AM9 and AM10, was published on June 30. The new data centers will be built in Amstel III, a former office park currently being redeveloped into a mixed-use neighborhood. Equinix plans to secure up to 80MW of power for the campus, but the project will be developed in phases due to significant grid congestion in the region.

“The initial build-out is limited to approximately 25 percent of the total permitted development and focuses on the first tower,” an Equinix spokesperson said. This phased approach is a direct response to the strain on the local power grid. Michiel Eielts, managing director of Equinix Netherlands, told Dutch newspaper Het Parool that electricity consumption for the site will be capped at this initial level until at least 2036, a limitation that will shape the operational capacity of the new facilities for years to come.

Equinix’s existing portfolio in Amsterdam is already substantial, with data centers located in Amstel III (AM1, AM2, AM5, AM7, AM11), Betondorp (AM6), the Science Park (AM3, AM4), and Sloterdijk (AM8). The addition of AM9 and AM10 will further consolidate its presence in one of Europe’s most critical internet exchange points. The industry-wide challenge of securing reliable and sustainable power is influencing development strategies across the continent, and Equinix’s experience in Amsterdam serves as a case study for how operators must balance growth with local energy infrastructure realities.