Massive Fire at NorthC Data Center in Almere: NL-Alert Issued

Massive Fire Erupts at NorthC Datacenter in Almere

A large fire broke out on the morning of May 7, 2026, at a NorthC Datacenters facility in Almere, the Netherlands, sending massive plumes of smoke visible across the city and prompting an NL-Alert emergency warning for nearby residents. The fire started around 8:30 a.m. local time in a rear compartment housing technical equipment and emergency power supply systems. The blaze was quickly escalated to a 'very large fire' classification, and a GRIP 1 regional emergency coordination was activated by 9:10 a.m., bringing together multiple emergency services.

All personnel on site were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported, according to NorthC CEO Alexandra Schless. The company confirmed that safety protocols were activated immediately. The affected compartment is considered a total loss, and firefighters are prioritizing preventing the fire from spreading to the main data hall and other critical infrastructure.

Emergency Response and Crashtender Deployment

The fire department deployed substantial resources, including a crash tender from Lelystad Airport and another from Schiphol, to cool a diesel storage tank located on the premises. Crash tenders are specialized vehicles with high-capacity foam and water cannons typically used for aircraft fires, but their deployment here underscores the risk of the diesel tank igniting or exploding. The tank is being continuously cooled to prevent thermal runaway.

The emergency response to data center fires requires specialized tactics due to the presence of high-voltage electrical equipment, backup batteries, and fuel storage. Firefighters are working in coordination with NorthC's technical teams to isolate power and secure the facility.

Impact on Services and Institutions

The fire has caused significant disruptions to critical services. Utrecht University reported severe impacts on its applications and website, as it hosts servers in the affected data center. The university stated that network connectivity and several digital services are offline or degraded.

Infomedics, the organization responsible for sending invoices on behalf of healthcare providers, is unreachable via phone and chat. Multiple general practitioner (GP) practices and pharmacies have also reported disruptions, unable to access patient records or process digital prescriptions. The impact of data center outages on healthcare highlights the vulnerability of modern digital infrastructure.

Other customers of the NorthC facility, which is a 26,000 square meter Tier 3 data center with 11 MW capacity, are also likely affected. NorthC stated that technical teams are monitoring service delivery and updating customers through their portal. The company operates over twenty data centers across the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

NL-Alert and Public Safety Measures

The Flevoland Safety Region issued an NL-Alert urging residents in the vicinity to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off mechanical ventilation systems due to heavy smoke. The smoke plume is drifting southward and may cause nuisance in the Gooi region as well. Monitoring teams are checking for hazardous substances in the air, though no dangerous levels have been reported so far.

Authorities advise the public to avoid the area and to follow local emergency instructions. The A6 highway, which runs near the industrial estate, has not been closed but drivers are advised to be cautious due to reduced visibility.

Cause and Investigation

The cause of the fire remains unknown. An investigation will be launched once the fire is fully extinguished and the site is declared safe. NorthC has pledged full cooperation with authorities. The company was recently announced to be acquired by Antin Infrastructure Partners, a transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026.

The data center fire safety regulations in the Netherlands are under renewed scrutiny following this incident. Industry experts emphasize that while Tier 3 facilities have redundancy, the loss of a compartment can still cause widespread outages.

FAQ

What caused the fire at the NorthC data center in Almere?

The cause is still unknown and under investigation. The fire started in a rear compartment with technical equipment and emergency power systems.

Were there any injuries?

No injuries have been reported. All personnel were evacuated safely and in time.

What is a GRIP 1 situation?

GRIP 1 (Gecoördineerde Regionale IncidentbestrijdingsProcedure) is a Dutch coordination scale for regional emergency response, activated when multiple services need to work together under a unified command structure.

Which services are affected by the outage?

Utrecht University reported disruptions to applications and website. Infomedics (healthcare billing) is unreachable. Multiple GP practices and pharmacies have also experienced service interruptions.

How long will the outage last?

It is unclear at this stage. The fire is still ongoing, and restoration will depend on damage assessment and recovery plans once the site is safe.

Sources

• NOS: Enorme rookpluimen boven Almere door grote brand in datacenter
• NL Times: Video: Major fire sweeps through Almere data center
• DutchNews: Massive fire at datacentre in Almere, NL-alert circulated
• Techzine: Fire at Dutch NorthC data center, all personnel evacuated in time
• Omroep Flevoland: Grote brand bij datacenter in Almere