More than a hundred flights were cancelled on Friday morning at Schiphol (Amsterdam) Airport – one of Europe’s busiest travel hubs – due to strong gusts of wind affecting the Dutch airport, according to a spokesman.
According to Schiphol Airport, passengers travelling on Friday should consider delays and cancellations for both departing and arriving flights.
The KNMI weather institute reports that strong gusts of wind are expected throughout the Netherlands on Friday morning, with the exception of North Brabant and Limburg. The entire nation—except for Limburg and Noord-Brabant—is under a code yellow weather warning.
Wind gusts are expected to reach speeds of 75 to 90 kph (56 mph), while along the coast they may reach speeds of 90 to 100kph (62 mph) and over the Wadden Islands 100 to 120 kph (75 mph).
The wind is expected to weaken on Friday afternoon, after which the strong gusts disappear.
The Netherlands is facing its eighth official storm of 2024, with severe winds battering the country and causing widespread disruptions.
Rail operators and highway authorities have also reported significant impacts.
Storm Darragh was officially designated the first winter storm of the 2024-25 season, according to weather service Weeronline.
The previous storm, Conall, hit in late November, bringing wind speeds of just under 80 mph and severe disruptions in northern regions.
In contrast, the 2022-2023 winter season was calm, with no storms recorded—a rarity not seen since 1933.
Weeronline noted that strong winds will also be seen on Saturday, particularly along the Zeeland coast, but no additional storms are expected.
“Travelers flying today should prepare for delays and cancellations for both departing and arriving flights,” the spokesperson said. “The exact number of further disruptions will depend on weather developments.”
Passengers were advised to check real-time flight information or contact their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The storm has also significantly disrupted the country’s rail network. ProRail, the national rail infrastructure operator, reported fallen trees and debris blocking tracks in multiple locations. “Strong winds have led to widespread issues, making it impossible to run full schedules in some areas,” the operator said.
Train services around Almere were heavily affected, with a tree on the tracks forcing trains to share a single line. This caused extensive delays in cities such as Hilversum, Duivendrecht, and Weesp.
Drivers also faced treacherous conditions. Rijkswaterstaat, the national highway authority, warned that high-sided vehicles, empty trucks, and trailers were at risk on bridges and viaducts.
“Be extra cautious during this morning’s rush hour,” Rijkswaterstaat advised on X, formerly Twitter.