Suspected sabotage triggers major rail chaos across the Netherlands

Major disruptions have struck the Netherlands’ railway network after authorities identified suspected sabotage on multiple track sections. The national infrastructure operator, ProRail, announced on Tuesday that intentional human interference was responsible for the incidents, which have led to significant service interruptions across the country’s central and northern regions.

According to local media reports, metal pipes were attached to the rails in several places. Footage broadcast by the public broadcaster NOS showed police removing what appeared to be 1.5-meter-long metal pipes from the tracks in Veenendaal, located in the central part of the nation.

In a statement, ProRail confirmed that “materials were found at multiple locations in the track that were deliberately placed there,” resulting in section malfunctions. The operator described the event as “an intentional disruption… caused by human action” and stated that the national police unit is currently investigating.

While the motives and identities of those responsible remain unknown, at least 15 separate disruptions were recorded across the rail network on Tuesday. Key routes, including those connecting to Schiphol International Airport and the city of Utrecht, were heavily affected. Additionally, some level crossings were closed, leading to secondary traffic disruptions on roads.

A train in Steenwijk struck one of the objects, but ProRail confirmed that no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, a Eurostar service traveling from Amsterdam to Paris experienced delays due to “operational restrictions” at Amsterdam Centraal station, though it remains unclear if this was directly linked to the broader sabotage campaign.

This incident follows recent reports from French media suggesting that a derailment in Normandy last Friday may also have been an act of sabotage. French prosecutors indicated that a section of rail found on the tracks might have caused the crash, although Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has advised caution pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.