How to Choose a Dedicated Server in the Netherlands

Simply having the data center's location be in the Netherlands tells us little about whether it can meet our standards for latency, capacity, and GDPR compliance. This guide covers each.

What should I actually check when choosing a dedicated server in the Netherlands?

Whether the server has AMS-IX connectivity, whether it follows local rules for building and power usage efficiency, and how GDPR applies to the service. Having a Dutch location isn't enough to assure any of that.

Our own Amsterdam facility is one of eight data-center locations we operate, with the AMS-IX connectivity this kind of setup depends on.

The next sections go through each reason in turn.

Why does AMS-IX matter for latency in Europe?

AMS-IX is one of the largest internet exchanges in the world, with over 800 member networks peering there and a traffic peak of over 12 terabits per second. Hosting at a server located on this exchange is close to a huge part of European network traffic.

According to Wikipedia's entry on AMS-IX, the exchange operates as "a non-profit, neutral and independent peering point" which connects to "882" members via "1,493" ports, and peaked in traffic at "12.019 Tb/s."

Why has data center capacity in Amsterdam been constrained in recent years?

The industry expanded quickly enough that Amsterdam placed a moratorium on further expansion, and later resumed with restrictions and energy efficiency requirements.

As the Dutch Data Center Association explains it, "the moratorium made one thing clear: the Dutch data center industry was a victim of its own success." In other words, uncontrolled expansion is exactly what prompted the moratorium.

Does hosting in the Netherlands still fall under GDPR?

Yes. The Netherlands is an EU member state, and GDPR's obligations concerning data protection and handling personal data apply equally everywhere in the EU.

According to Wikipedia's entry on the GDPR, controllers are required to ensure "appropriate technical and organizational measures" protecting personal data – no less in a data center located in Amsterdam than anywhere else in the EU.

What energy efficiency requirements apply to newer Dutch data centers?

The PUE requirement for a new data center is 1.2, and the facility is required to use multiple floors where possible. These requirements are a direct result of the moratorium in Amsterdam.

Also, according to the same Dutch Data Center Association piece, new builds must achieve "a PUE of 1.2 for new builds" and are required to "use multiple floors if possible," – this is an effect of the moratorium directly.

Our Bare Metal servers and VPS plans are well worth comparing against any alternatives you may consider, using the guidelines above.