Storm force winds caused many problems for motorists on Tuesday and train services were disrupted in some places as trees fell onto tracks.

The KNMI weather bureau raised its weather warning to code orange for the north of the country as the wind reached speeds of up to 120 kph on the Wadden Sea islands.

Lorries blew over on several roads, causing long delays and closures. In particular there were problems on the A50 near Apeldoorn and on the A27, the ANWB motoring organisation said.

The Houtrib dyke between Lelystad and Enkhuizen has been closed because of the strong winds which have whipped water from the Ijsselmeer lake over the road, leaving debris behind.

At Schiphol airport, some 80 flights have been cancelled and others are facing delays. The west to north-westerly gales are making it difficult for some aircraft to land. Passengers are being advised to contact their airline for information.

Trains

Train services have also been disrupted. Intercity services have been cancelled between Rotterdam and Breda. Other services, in particular between Utrecht and Hilversum and around Zwolle, face delays because trees have blown onto the tracks.

The NS is also warning passengers not to travel to Germany by train because of the storm, which has reached hurricane force in places.

A container ship was blown off course in the Westerschelde estuary but was eventually righted in the late morning.

The infrastructure ministry has closed the sluices at Krimpen aan den IJssel because of the high water. The dykes have also been closed around the northern Groningen port of Delfzijl.