A coordinated act of sabotage targeting the Netherlands’ railway infrastructure caused widespread disruption to train services after objects were deliberately placed on tracks at dozens of locations across the country.
Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail said problems began early September 15, when track-circuit failures were detected at multiple locations in central and northern parts of the Netherlands. Investigators subsequently discovered materials that had intentionally been placed on the tracks, leading ProRail to characterize the incidents as sabotage.
Approximately 30 locations were affected, primarily in the central and eastern Netherlands. In many cases, metal pipes approximately 1.5 meters long had been positioned so that they connected the two rails. This created electrical short circuits that caused railway safety systems to register sections of track as occupied, automatically turning signals red and preventing trains from proceeding.
The disruption severely affected services around Zwolle, Deventer and Amersfoort during the morning rush hour and also affected level crossings. One train struck an object placed on the track near Steenwijk, although no injuries were reported.
Additional suspicious objects were discovered later in the day, including a pipe near Teuge that forced another temporary suspension of rail service between Apeldoorn and Deventer.
Dutch police launched an investigation, while the Netherlands’ AIVD intelligence service became involved in efforts to determine who was responsible. No group had claimed responsibility, and authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or established a motive.
The incidents occurred on Prinsjesdag, the ceremonial opening of the Dutch parliamentary year, although authorities have not established that the timing was connected to the event.