Storm Amy batters Netherlands, sends tanker adrift and halts flights

Storm Amy battered the Netherlands this weekend with winds up to 90 kilometers per hour, toppling trees, canceling hundreds of flights and ferry services, and sending an oil tanker adrift off the coast of IJmuiden.

In the meantime, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) lifted its nationwide code yellow warning Sunday morning as conditions slowly improved. There is currently no active weather alert.

The 145-meter Singapore-flagged oil tanker Eva Schulte, carrying a load of fuel oil, lost control Saturday night in rough seas near IJmuiden and began drifting toward the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, NU.nl reported.

The emergency tug Multraship Protector, which had been stationed near the wind farm, managed to secure a towline and pull the tanker to a safe position. “The first priority is now to tow the tanker away from the wind farm,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “The tanker is being towed to a safe location and held in position. The situation is stable.”

Amy, the fourth storm to hit the Netherlands this year and the second of the meteorological autumn, originated from the remnants of Hurricane Humberto. The British weather service named the storm, which struck the Dutch coast Saturday with wind force 9 recorded for an hour in IJmuiden.

The strongest gusts hit the Wadden area, Noord- and Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, and the IJsselmeer, with wind speeds between 75 and 90 kilometers per hour. More inland, winds reached force 4.

Across the country, trees were uprooted and roads blocked. In Harderwijk, branches from a fallen tree crashed onto a car, and similar incidents were reported in Weert and Deurne, where firefighters cut and cleared debris. Streets in Stadskanaal were littered with broken branches, roof tiles, and fallen trees. Roof ridges were torn off several homes, and solar panels were damaged. Many places also experienced extreme flooding.

In Waalre, a fallen tree temporarily blocked a road, while in Apeldoorn one tree split in half during the storm. Despite widespread damage, emergency services reported no serious injuries.

Schiphol Airport canceled more than 150 flights Saturday — including 80 arrivals and 70 departures — mainly KLM flights to and from western destinations such as the United Kingdom. Ten additional round-trip flights were canceled Sunday. Passengers were rebooked on the next available flights. Rotterdam The Hague Airport reported water damage from a leaking roof, forcing closure of the first floor, regional broadcaster Rijnmond said.

Ferry operator Doeksen canceled multiple sailings between Harlingen, Vlieland, and Terschelling because of high winds and water levels.

Events across the Netherlands were also disrupted. The fireworks display for Leiden’s Leidens Ontzet celebration was canceled Saturday night, and the Roetz Festival in Nieuwerkerk’s Hitland nature area was called off. A bird migration count in Bergschenhoek was canceled due to strong winds, and Amsterdam broadcaster AT5 reported that part of the Bijlmer disaster memorial was moved indoors.

In Flevoland, the Ramspol storm surge barrier near Ens was activated for a test unrelated to Amy, according to Rijkswaterstaat. The inflatable dam, made of reinforced rubber, temporarily closes off the Zwarte Meer from the Ketelmeer during high water events.

Although the Netherlands saw extensive disruption, KNMI said Sunday morning that the worst had passed. Wind speeds were expected to ease throughout the day, with occasional sunshine and temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees.