Rail traffic across the Netherlands was disrupted today due to deliberate sabotage, just hours before the state opening of parliament, railway infrastructure operator ProRail said, Reuters news agency reported.
ProRail said pipes attached to tracks were found in more than 20 locations, mainly in rural areas in the central and eastern parts of the country.
"We discovered materials that were deliberately placed there. That is why we are now classifying this as sabotage of the railway infrastructure," said ProRail spokeswoman Joke van der Krujsen.
King Willem-Alexander was scheduled to open a new session of parliament this afternoon with a speech in which he would present the government's budget plans for 2027.
All trains near the blocked sections of track were stopped, while there were serious disruptions elsewhere, including on international rail lines to Germany.
"It is not yet known who is responsible or what the motive is," ProRail said.
The Dutch intelligence service AIVD said it was investigating the case together with the police and prosecutors.
The budget plans have sparked mass protests in recent months, including from unions unhappy with plans to cut social benefits, as well as farmers who claim they are unfairly blamed for nitrogen pollution.
Farmers have announced a protest in The Hague for today.
The pipes disrupted not only rail but also road traffic, as several level crossings had to remain closed, ProRail announced.
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