More than 35 acts of suspected sabotage on railway tracks caused major disruption across the Netherlands on the morning of Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The incidents occurred in the country’s centre and north, affecting key rail routes and delaying services in multiple cities including Amsterdam.
Rail services and road traffic affected
The sabotage involved pipes and cables deliberately placed on tracks, which caused computer systems operated by ProRail to register false train locations. This error prevented traffic control from clearing the affected lines, resulting in widespread cancellations and delays. Train routes to Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Zwolle, Deventer, Amersfoort, and Amsterdam were impacted. International services such
as the Eurostar to Paris experienced delays at Amsterdam Centraal station. The placement of the materials also disrupted level crossings, leading to road closures in affected areas.
Train operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) said the scale of disruption made it impossible to offer bus replacement services. As of 17:00 CEST on Tuesday, no new blockages had been reported since 13:00, with some disruptions resolved. NS still showed interruptions on two lines by Tuesday evening.
Official statements and investigations
ProRail confirmed the deliberate placement of pipes and cables at more than 35 locations, describing the act as extremely dangerous and unacceptable. The operator said no accidents
resulted from the sabotage on Tuesday, although a train struck metal on the track near Steenwijk on Monday, 14 September, without causing injury or significant damage.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the sabotage “disruptive and life-threatening.” Dutch Police, the Netherlands’ intelligence agency AIVD, and the national public prosecutor’s office have launched a criminal investigation but have not publicly identified any suspects or motives so far.
Context and related incidents
The sabotage coincided with Prinsjesdag, the day the Dutch government presents its budget. Farmers Defence Force protests against government plans to reduce nitrogen emissions took place on the same day, but authorities have found
no established link to the rail network sabotage. The group denied responsibility but did not rule out individual involvement.
The incidents followed a suspected sabotage-related derailment in Normandy, France, on 11 September 2026, in which prosecutors potentially linked a damaged track section to the crash. French investigations remain ongoing.
Calls for improved railway resilience
Mirjam van Velthuizen, interim CEO of NS, urged stronger contingency planning and resilience for the Dutch rail network in response to the events. She said, “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.”
ProRail emphasized the inherent danger of placing objects on tracks and highlighted the fortunate absence of accidents during the sabotage incidents.
