Data Centers in Heerlen

Heerlen – Strategic Access to Benelux and Germany

Heerlen offers a compelling data center location for organizations targeting the Benelux region and Western Germany. The market provides resilient infrastructure and access to major European economic hubs while maintaining a low-risk profile for natural disasters. This makes it a strong choice for disaster recovery and secondary deployments supporting primary sites in larger FLAP markets.

Heerlen: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Heerlen's connectivity is solid, leveraging its proximity to one of the world's most interconnected cities, Amsterdam. While it is not a primary interconnection hub itself, it provides reliable access to dense European networks.

• Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The region is served by a good selection of national and regional carriers, with access to over 50 providers through facilities in the area as of September 2025. Carrier-neutral facilities provide diverse options for redundancy.
• Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no public cloud on-ramps located directly in Heerlen. Businesses connect to all major cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), and Microsoft Azure, via private network extensions to Amsterdam.
• Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Peering is primarily handled through major exchanges in Amsterdam, such as AMS-IX. Direct access to these IXPs ensures low-latency connectivity to a vast ecosystem of networks across Europe.
• Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available, enabling businesses to deploy dedicated infrastructure. Providers like Leaseweb offer solutions that can serve customers from nearby Dutch data centers.

Power Analysis

The power infrastructure in the Netherlands is reliable and benefits from a stable, modern grid. The country's energy mix is increasingly focused on renewables.

• Average Cost Of Power: Industrial power costs in the region typically range from €0.14 to €0.19 per kWh, as of September 2025. This pricing is competitive for Western Europe and supports predictable operational budgets.
• Power Grid Reliability: The national power grid is highly reliable, with well-engineered distribution networks supporting data center operations. Facilities in the area are typically connected to multiple substations, ensuring redundancy for critical workloads.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Heerlen is strategically positioned at the crossroads of several major European markets, offering excellent access for businesses with a continental footprint.

• Proximity To Key Business Districts: The market serves the Brightlands Chemelot Campus and other business parks focused on materials science, health, and smart services. Its location near the German and Belgian borders provides low-latency access to Aachen, Cologne, and Liège.
• Regional Market Reach: From Heerlen, businesses can effectively serve a population of over 50 million within a 200-kilometer radius, covering the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany's industrial heartland in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.
• Tax Advantage For Data Centers: The Netherlands does not offer specific tax incentives for data centers. The government has taken a cautious approach to large-scale data center development to balance economic benefits with environmental sustainability.

Natural Disaster Risk

Heerlen has a low natural disaster risk profile, with an INFORM Risk score of 2.5 out of 10, as of September 2025. This minimizes the threat of environmental disruptions to data center operations.

The primary natural hazards to consider, though still rated low to moderate, are:

• Coastal Flood: The national score is high (10/10), but Heerlen's inland location makes the direct risk negligible.
• River Flood: At 8.6/10, this is the most significant local consideration, related to the Meuse River and its tributaries. Facilities are sited in low-risk flood zones.
• Earthquake: The risk is very low at 1.8/10.
• Drought: A minor consideration with a score of 0.5/10.