As I AM one, particularly in this day and age, to believe that there are pretty much never any such things as 'coincidences' anymore, I find these developments this morning to be frickin' disturbing.
A major coordinated sabotage attack was just carried out against railway infrastructure in at more than 20 locations in the Netherlands.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 15, 2026
Large 2 meter-long metal pipes were deliberately attached to the tracks, triggering track-circuit and safety system failures by tricking the… pic.twitter.com/WFmjDkJPOP
...Large 2 meter-long metal pipes were deliberately attached to the tracks, triggering track-circuit and safety system failures by tricking the grid's computers into registering that the tracks were blocked.
Some of the attacked railway lines include:
Amersfoort – Zwolle
Zwolle – Leeuwarden
Utrecht – Arnhem
Arnhem – Zutphen
Amersfoort–Deventer
Gouda–Oudewater
What a wonder that whoever did this triggered the safety mechanisms that alerted the rail system operators that the lines were blocked.
That was not the case only this past Friday evening, when a 660-pound section of rail track was laid across the tracks between Rouen and Caen and struck by the regular commuter train shortly thereafter.
That resulted in four derailed cars, another of which flipped over on its side; the engine turned completely around to face in the opposite direction; and 44 of the over 180 passengers onboard were injured, with one young lady leaving the scene in critical condition.
French police were quietly calling it a sabotage attempt, as such a huge 'rail fragment' doesn't miraculously wind up across tracks on its own.
A MALICIOUS ACT
...The Telegraph used the same verbiage for the fragment lying across the track.
...One carriage overturned, and four derailed after hitting an unidentified object, BFMTV, the French TV station, reported.
Officials said a fragment of rail had been found on the track and that the main line of inquiry was focused on the incident having been a malicious act.
“The reasons for its presence are unknown and will have to be determined by the investigation,” Sebastien Gallois, a prosecutor said.
And now here we have some twenty more in the Netherlands today, although a tad more thoughtful in nature?
Although one train did reportedly hit one of the tubes, thankfully no one was injured.
Dutch rail operator ProRail wasn't quite as circumspect as the French prosecutor, and said the 'S' word right out loud.
A wave of coordinated rail sabotage paralysed Dutch trains on Budget Day as the government calls for an investigation to reveal the perpetrators.
Rail travel across large parts of the Netherlands ground to a halt on Tuesday after authorities discovered tubes tied to tracks at roughly 20 locations, in what officials are treating as coordinated sabotage.
Rail infrastructure operator ProRail said deliberately placed objects had triggered widespread track-circuit failures.
"Materials were found at multiple locations on the track that were deliberately placed there," said ProRail in a statement.
"This causes section malfunctions. Sabotage appears to be involved," added the operator.
The devices caused signalling systems to read affected sections as occupied, halting all trains through them regardless of whether one was actually present.
The disruption began around 5:30am (CET) and hit the Amersfoort–Zwolle, Utrecht–Arnhem, Arnhem–Zutphen and Zwolle–Leeuwarden routes hardest, with national operator NS reporting severe knock-on delays around Zwolle, Deventer and Amersfoort during the morning commuter hours.
One train struck a tube near Steenwijk, in Overijssel and ProRail confirmed no one was injured.
The rail stoppage significantly impacted service to nearby Germany, as well.
Targeted acts of sabotage have largely paralyzed train traffic in the Netherlands . Employees of the rail network operator ProRail discovered pipes attached to the tracks at more than 20 locations. The incidents occurred primarily in rural areas in the center and east of the country. Train services near the blockages were completely suspended. Significant delays and cancellations also occurred across the entire network. Connections to Germany were also affected.
📌Around 20 Sabotage Incidents Disrupt Trains Across Netherlands
— Context 360 (@NewsContext360) September 15, 2026
Train services across central and northern Netherlands were disrupted during Tuesday’s morning rush hour after long pipes were deliberately attached to railway tracks at around 20 locations.
ProRail said the… pic.twitter.com/g4bDBDsTVd
ProRail said the incidents appeared to be deliberate, while police investigate who was responsible and the motive.
This 'Budget Day' is apparently an annual event when the Dutch king traditionally addresses large crowds at The Hague. It's also a magnet for people with beefs against the Dutch government to make flashy public protest statements.
...Annet Bertram, the secretary of state for infrastructure and water management, called the alleged sabotage “particularly worrying,” adding that “it is now important that this is investigated very carefully.”
The incident happened on Prinsjesdag, the annual day marking the start of the Dutch parliamentary year, when the government presents its budget plans for the year ahead.
Dutch media reports suggest that activist farmers may be responsible. Farmers in the Netherlands have a history of using similar tactics in protests against the government’s nitrogen policy, which they may be linking to Prinsjesdag.
The Farmers Defense Force, a protest and advocacy group, says it is not behind the suspected sabotage, but has not ruled out that farmers are responsible for the disruptions.
This is not the first time the Dutch rail network has been severely disrupted by suspected sabotage on the day of a major event. During last year’s NATO summit in The Hague, trains around Schiphol airport were severely delayed after a fire. No one has been arrested in connection with that incident.
Fires have also reportedly been set along major roadways in the area...
Railway section failures at multiple locations in the Netherlands appear to have been caused by sabotage, according to ProRail, the Dutch government agency responsible for rail infrastructure.
At the same time, fires broke out alongside several motorways across the country, threatening to disrupt road traffic.
...The disruptions come as the government of Prime Minister Rob Jetten prepares to present its first budget Tuesday afternoon.
...Meanwhile, Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch government agency responsible for managing the country’s primary road networks, warned that some lanes or entire highways could face closure on Tuesday due to several fires along the roads in the Netherlands.
...but authorities, and obviously Dutch media, are leaning more towards angry Dutch farmers being responsible for those as part of their ongoing protests against Dutch government climate policies that are decimating the renowned farming culture of the Netherlands.
Besides Railway sabotaging in the Netherlands, there are also fires around major highways. This seems coordinated, not a coincidence anymore.
— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) September 15, 2026
Currently, the Dutch king is holding a speech where he is mentioning extra support to Ukraine, for Prinsjesdag. pic.twitter.com/CnEUQqlfRK
I have to say, though, things are certainly getting testy on every front in Europe, and this sort of local sabotage of the most vital system to European transportation is bound to be...unsettling is the best word I guess I could use. As all these other tensions start to pile up.
The Russians were busy popping warning flares off at Danish helicopters...
📌 Russian warship fired flares at Danish military helicopter
— Context 360 (@NewsContext360) September 15, 2026
Russia has accused Danish military helicopters of carrying out dangerous manoeuvres near its warships in the Baltic Sea and has sent Copenhagen an official note of protest.
The Danish armed forces said: "One of the… pic.twitter.com/eSUVQZom4s
...coupled with recent drone scares and rumors of Russians running amok, have everyone on edge.
When homegrown radicals, be they Europe's extreme-left terrorists coming up for air or the more activist among the farmers' unions, take action in such an environment, it foments more chaos.
I hope someone has a plan to get a handle on this quickly.
Editor's Note: Do you enjoy HotAir's conservative reporting that takes on the radical Left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join HotAir VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member