Strong winds force 100 flight cancellations at Schiphol Airport; Road users also warned

Severe winds forced the cancellation of over 100 flights at Schiphol Airport on Friday morning, with disruptions expected to continue into the afternoon. The airport advised passengers to prepare for delays and cancellations, citing ongoing weather conditions. A spokesperson for Schiphol said the exact number of additional cancellations and delays would depend on how the weather develops.

Travelers were urged to check live flight updates or contact their airlines directly. KLM confirmed that it has cancelled more than 90 flights. That number is expected to increase further, a spokesperson said. The Dutch airline operates more passenger flights at Schiphol than any other company.

The Dutch meteorological institute (KNMI) issued a yellow weather warning for much of the country, predicting gusts between 75 and 90 kilometers per hour. Coastal areas were expected to experience even stronger winds, reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour, while gusts of up to 120 kilometers per hour were forecast for the Wadden Islands.

The KNMI warned of falling tree branches, potentially hazardous conditions for drivers of high-sided vehicles, and risks for cyclists. The winds were expected to subside by early Friday afternoon.

The storm impacted not only air travel but also road and rail networks. ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager, reported widespread issues caused by fallen trees and debris on tracks.

"Strong winds have affected multiple areas across the country. In some places, we cannot run trains at all or are running a reduced schedule," ProRail said.

Service disruptions were particularly severe around Almere, where a tree fell onto the tracks, significantly limiting operations on the Flevolijn railway. According to a spokesperson for Dutch national railway NS, one of the two tracks in the area was blocked, forcing trains to share a single line.

This caused "a cascade of delays" throughout the region, with knock-on effects for cities including Duivendrecht, Hilversum, Weesp, and Lelystad. "Traffic in these areas is severely impacted. Train services are reduced, and delays are expected for most of the day," the NS spokesperson added.

The morning commute proved treacherous for drivers across the country. Rijkswaterstaat, the national highway authority, issued warnings to motorists, particularly those driving vehicles vulnerable to high winds, such as trucks and trailers.

"Empty trucks and vehicles with trailers can be particularly at risk on bridges, flyovers, and viaducts," the agency stated on X, formerly Twitter. Drivers were urged to exercise caution during the morning rush hour.

KNMI also warned of the possibility of falling branches and debris creating additional risks for road users.