On Tuesday morning, September 15, 2026, significant disruption hit the Dutch rail network as ProRail reported more than 35 sabotage incidents involving pipes and cables deliberately placed on tracks in central and northern parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam.
Sabotage Causes Delays and System Failures
ProRail identified these actions as intentional sabotage. The placed materials caused their computer systems to falsely register trains on affected tracks, preventing rail traffic controllers from clearing sections. This resulted in widespread cancellations, delays, and recurring disruptions even after initial removals of the objects.
Affected routes included services to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoort. Some level crossings
closed temporarily, causing additional road traffic disruptions.
Official Responses to the Sabotage
ProRail described the sabotage as “extremely dangerous and unacceptable,” noting that no accidents occurred. Interim NS CEO Mirjam van Velthuizen called for resilience and investment in contingency planning for the rail network, 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.” Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the incidents “disruptive and life-threatening.”
Investigation Led by Police, Prosecutors, and Intelligence
A criminal investigation was launched with the involvement of the Netherlands Police, the national public
prosecutor’s office, and the intelligence agency AIVD. No suspects or official motives have yet been reported. A related incident occurred early Monday near Steenwijk where a train struck metal on the track but sustained no further damage due to low speed.
Travel and Traffic Impact During the Disruption
Train delays and cancellations affected a broad range of services nationwide. Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) confirmed ongoing disruptions on two lines into Tuesday evening and stated bus replacement services were not possible due to the scale of the disturbance. Closure of some level crossings also contributed to road traffic disruption. Eurostar services from Amsterdam to Paris experienced delays caused by
operational restrictions at Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Farmers’ Protest Concurrent but Unlinked to Sabotage
On Prinsjesdag, the same day the Dutch government presented its budget, the Farmers Defence Force (FDF) staged protests by setting hay bales on fire along various roads. The FDF opposes government plans to reduce nitrogen emissions but denied responsibility for the rail sabotage, though they did not rule out individual farmers’ involvement.
Status of Disruption by Late Afternoon
By 17:00 CEST (16:00 GMT), ProRail reported no new track blockages since 13:00, with previously affected sections cleared. Nevertheless, NS continued to indicate service disruptions on two lines into Tuesday evening.
