Meta/Facebook got permission to develop Netherlands' largest data center in Zeewolde

Meta has been granted permission to build the Netherlands’ largest data center for its Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp applications in the small town of Zeewolde. Reports have it that the facility will use 200MW of electrical power and have five data center halls. The town council had a meeting on Thursday and approved the company’s proposal for the data center. The facility will be developed on 410 acres (166 hectares) of farmland.

The Netherlands has criticized the development of data centers in the country. One of the criticisms is that data centers use up available land and renewable energy while creating few jobs in return. The coalition government released a statement a day before Meta got the approval to develop the data center. It said hyperscale data centers do not add enough societal or economical value to compensate for its unreasonably enormous demand on the available green energy. However, the Zeewolde data center will create up to 400 jobs.