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St. Ghislain, Belgium

  • Welcome

    Google is proud to call Belgium home to one of our data centers.

    In 2007, we announced that we would invest €250 million in building an energy-efficient data center near the towns of St. Ghislain and Mons, in Belgium.

    The facility, which became fully operational in 2010, was the first Google data center worldwide to run entirely without refrigeration, using instead an advanced evaporative cooling system that draws grey water from a nearby industrial canal. This helps keep our computers running at their highest efficiency and reduces overall energy use.

    In 2013, we announced an additional investment of €300 million to build a second phase of our energy-efficient data center and meet growing European and global demand for our services. This expansion was completed in 2015.

    In February 2018, two exciting developments occurred with news of a €250 million data center expansion and the unveiling of a new solar plant on the data center site following a €3 million investment. In June 2019, we announced a further investment of €600 million to build a fourth data center on the campus.

    In November 2021, Google announced a commitment to invest more than €500 million to expand our existing data center site in St. Ghislain, our fifth data center on the campus. We also announced we acquired land in Ecopôle near Charleroi for a potential future data center.

    This brings Google’s total data center investment in St. Ghislain to nearly €3 billion.

    We’re proud to call St. Ghislain home and honored to be part of the local community.

    Why did Google choose St. Ghislain?

    St. Ghislain has the right combination of energy infrastructure and developable land. The local authorities also have a strong vision for how the internet can bring economic benefits and jobs to the area. The Digital Innovation Valley project has created a cluster of high-tech businesses and put technology at the heart of the education system. As a result, we have a great team of people supporting our investment in the area.

    SEE PHOTOS

    Where do I get more information?

    For community-related questions, please email
    stghislain@google.com.

    Members of the media, please email
    press@google.com.

    For answers to frequently asked questions, see our FAQ.

    Related sites

    Sustainability

    Learn more about Google's environmental initiatives and our quest to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy, everywhere, by 2030.

    Podcast: Where the Internet Lives

    Learn about the fascinating world of data centers in this podcast that explores the technology, people, and places that make the internet run.

    A taste of local street art

    Local artist Oli-B created colorful murals on the outside of our St. Ghislain data center.

    Stories from Belgium

    Watch community members share why it's good to have Google in their neighborhood.

    The magic behind the cloud

    See how Google Data Centers keep the internet up and running while supporting our communities.

    Cleaner data centers, batteries included

    Read about the first ever battery-based system for replacing generators at a hyperscale data center.

    Economic impact report

    Read how Google Data Centers support the economy.

  • Working Here

    WE'RE HIRING!

    Google hires the most qualified individuals from around the world. We make it a priority to hire from the local community whenever possible because it’s good for business and the right thing to do.

    We also seek to contract with local vendors whenever possible. If you are a vendor or are interested in providing a service to Google, please learn more on our supplier help website.

    Find available positions at our data center
    Woman in data center

    Life at Google Data Centers

    The technology in our data centers is groundbreaking, but the people who run them are truly remarkable.

    MEET THE AMAZING PEOPLE BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY
  • Community
    • About Community

      In the community

      At Google, we’re committed to playing a positive role in every community in which we operate around the world. Through investments and local initiatives that utilize our tools and expertise, we’re working to help businesses, educational institutions, community collaboratives, nonprofits, and individuals create and thrive in a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
    • Educational Outreach

      Educational outreach

      To fulfill our goal of hiring locally, we’re working with local schools, colleges, and universities to help them develop and enhance their technology programs. In doing so, we hope to help grow the members of the community who are just entering the workforce, retraining, or progressing in their career paths. We want to help invigorate participation and opportunity in technology, increase knowledge in the community, and benefit potential employers in the area.

      An example is our partnership with the HELHa in developing an advanced degree Data Center Engineering Program intended for people with a technical bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience. The training is focused on the maintenance of data centers.

    • In Community

      Partnerships and events

      We are always on the lookout for opportunities for Googlers to share their time and expertise with the local community. Because as Google grows, our communities grow. But don’t just take our word for it. See and hear the stories of our St. Ghislain community members here.
    • Community Grants

      Community investments

      Google’s community investment program supports organizations and initiatives that focus on issues we’re passionate about, including education, sustainability, access to the internet and technology, economic growth, health and science, and the arts.

      Learn more about our Data Center Community Investment Program, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.