EditCoordinated rail sabotage hits Netherlands on Prince’s Day
Metal pipes attached to tracks at over 20 sites trigger nationwide disruptions
Dutch rail operator ProRail confirmed a coordinated suspected sabotage on Tuesday morning after metal pipes were found attached to tracks at more than 20 locations across central and northern Netherlands. The objects triggered track-circuit failures, making safety systems register sections as occupied and forcing signals to red.
Services halted or faced major delays on routes including Amersfoort–Zwolle, Utrecht–Arnhem, Arnhem–Zutphen and Zwolle–Leeuwarden. One train struck a pipe near Steenwijk without derailing or causing injuries. Level crossings also malfunctioned, adding road disruption. The incidents began around 5:30 a.m. on Prinsjesdag, the day the government presents its budget.
Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day) marks the official opening of the parliamentary year in the Netherlands, and is held annually on the third Tuesday of September.
Police and the AIVD intelligence service are investigating. No suspects or motive have been identified, and no group has claimed responsibility. Officials described the scale as pointing to an organized effort rather than isolated vandalism.
A regional train derailed in Normandy, France, on Friday 11 September after striking a length of rail on the tracks, injuring 44 people. French authorities initially treated a malicious act as a possible line of inquiry but later stated there was no evidence of an intentional attempt to cause a derailment. The method and outcome differ from the Dutch disruptions.
ProRail prioritized restoring services while preserving evidence. NS expected some lines through Amersfoort, Zwolle and Deventer to resume after midday. Travelers were advised to check live updates as knock-on delays continued nationwide.
Besides Railway sabotaging in the Netherlands, there are also fires around major highways. This seems coordinated, not a coincidence anymore.
Currently, the Dutch king is holding a speech where he is mentioning extra support to Ukraine, for Prinsjesdag. pic.twitter.com/CnEUQqlfRK
— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) September 15, 2026
Caption: A police offcer works along the tracks in Meppel, Netherlands, 15 September 2026. No trains are running in parts of the country due to a disruption that originated at thirteen locations on the tracks in the central Netherlands. The malfunction was caused by sabotage, according to ProRail. EPA/Jilmer Postma
Updated: September 15, 2026 - 14:39
