More than 35 incidents of suspected sabotage disrupted railway services across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, on Tuesday 15 September 2026. Pipes and cables were deliberately placed on tracks in central and northern regions, causing ProRail’s signalling systems to mistake these objects for trains and blocking traffic control from clearing the lines.
Geographical scope and affected routes
Disruptions affected multiple routes including Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven, Utrecht, and cities such as Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoort. The sabotage also forced the closure of some level crossings, leading to additional road traffic disturbances. A train struck metal on the track near Steenwijk early Monday but sustained no damage
due to low speed.
Official responses and investigation status
ProRail condemned the placement of materials on tracks as “extremely dangerous and unacceptable,” stressing no accidents occurred. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the acts as “disruptive and life-threatening.” The National Public Prosecutor’s Office, Netherlands Intelligence Agency AIVD, and national police units are conducting a criminal investigation. Dutch Police confirmed involvement of units from across the country in probing the sabotage.
Impact on rail services and traveler disruptions
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) reported widespread cancellations and delays throughout the day. By about 17:00 CEST on Tuesday, no new blockages had been detected since 13:00, though disruptions to two lines remained in the evening. NS
interim CEO Mirjam van Velthuizen noted the events highlighted the Netherlands’ dependence on rail, stating, “In a world where uncertainties are increasing, we must ensure that the railway can absorb disruptions, that the impact remains limited as much as possible, and that we can recover as quickly as possible.” Replacement bus services were not provided due to the scale of the disruption. Additional delays affected a Eurostar service from Amsterdam to Paris caused by operational restrictions at Amsterdam Centraal station.
Contextual background on disruptions and protests
The sabotage occurred on Prinsjesdag, the day the Dutch government presents its budget. Separately, the Farmers Defence Force staged protests
involving burning hay bales in various locations, rejecting government plans to reduce nitrogen emissions. Authorities found no proven link between the protests and the railway sabotage. The incident adds to regional concerns over railroad security following reports of a suspected sabotage-related derailment in Normandy, France, earlier that week, which remains under investigation.
