Netherlands data centre fire prompts emergency response in Almere

A major fire at a data centre in Almere has sent large plumes of smoke into the sky, prompting a regional emergency response and causing widespread disruption to digital services across the Netherlands.

The blaze broke out at a facility operated by NorthC Datacenters in a technical room at the rear of the building, where critical equipment, including emergency power systems, is located. Fire services said the compartment is considered a total loss.

The fire produced heavy smoke visible across a wide area, prompting authorities to issue an NL-Alert advising residents nearby to keep windows and doors closed and switch off mechanical ventilation systems.

All staff inside the building were safely evacuated in time, according to the operator.

Emergency services escalated the incident to a “very large fire” response, with multiple fire units deployed from Hilversum, Huizen, Amsterdam and Schiphol. The response was further raised to Grip 2 status, meaning authorities are also coordinating broader impacts on the surrounding area.

Specialist firefighting vehicles, including airport crash tenders from Lelystad Airport and Schiphol, were brought in due to the presence of a diesel tank within the facility that required constant cooling. Officials said preventing the fire from spreading to other sections of the data centre remains the top priority.

The site, located on an industrial estate on the eastern side of Almere near the A6 motorway, remained heavily cordoned off as firefighting efforts continued throughout the day.

The incident has had significant knock-on effects on digital infrastructure. The University of Utrecht confirmed that some of its servers hosted at the facility have been affected, leading to disruptions to applications and its website.

Other organisations, including healthcare billing provider Infomedics, reported that they were unable to access phone and chat services. Several GP surgeries and pharmacies across the country have also experienced system outages, with expectations that services may remain disrupted for the rest of the day.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Authorities said investigations will begin once the site is deemed safe to enter.

By Aghakazim Guliyev