Coordinated sabotage and protests disrupt transport in the Netherlands

On the morning of Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Dutch railway network in the eastern and central regions experienced significant disruptions due to coordinated acts of sabotage. Infrastructure manager ProRail reported that pipes and other materials were deliberately secured to tracks at more than 20 locations, including sections between Utrecht and Arnhem, Amersfoort and Deventer, and Gouda and Oudewater. While one train made contact with an obstruction, no derailments or injuries occurred. The sabotage also affected railway crossing signals, leading to road traffic complications.

Simultaneously, Dutch farmers staged protests near major highways to express their opposition to the government's budget, which was scheduled for presentation that day. The activist group Farmers Defence Force confirmed responsibility for setting fires to hay bales and tires along motorways, forcing authorities to close roads. These incidents occurred just before the parliamentary session began. ProRail teams are currently working to clear the railway obstructions and restore infrastructure safety, while authorities address the traffic gridlock caused by the highway fires. Normal service is gradually being restored across the rail network as investigations into the coordinated actions continue.