Google invests millions in Groningen data center

Google is investing €600 million into the construction of a massive data center in the Eemshaven, which will bring more than 1000 new jobs to Groningen, of which 150 permanent, Het Parool reports. 

The news was confirmed by Francios Sterin, director of Google's international infrastructure sector.  The building will start in 2016 and should take a year.

The data center will house the many thousands of servers of the internet company, and will be built in a space which is bigger than 40 football fields.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says that Google chose The Netherlands because it is situated at 'a worldwide internet junction'. "11 of the 15 undersea cables for digital traffic between America and Europe run via The Netherlands", Minister Henk Kamp said.

Minister Kamp believes that this investment will boost employment and the economy in the North. "The investment from Google shows that the North is an attractive area to invest in. There are well-educated technicians and builders available. There is an infrastructure of reliable energy and ICT. There is room to build."