Graffiti group stops Amsterdam metro with bicycle, paints train
About twenty people halted a metro at Henk Sneevlietweg on Halloween night and sprayed the whole train. Transport company GVB says it will try to recover the costs from them.
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Illustrative photo: Paul Townley / Public domain
About twenty people blocked a metro at Henk Sneevlietweg in Amsterdam Nieuw-West on Saturday evening, 31 October, by throwing a bicycle on the track. They then covered the whole train in graffiti. The train could not continue, says the Amsterdam transport company GVB.
Video of the action was posted on YouTube by an account called 'Locos Worldwide' under the title 'Amsterdam Nightmare'. The people wore hoods and face coverings. The driver's window was also sprayed with paint.
A GVB spokesperson said: "Our driver was badly shaken by the incident." The company said it can imagine the situation was frightening for passengers.
GVB calls it a serious form of vandalism that put the safety of passengers and staff at risk. "It wasn't just a metro that was vandalised – a bicycle was thrown onto the track as well. That poses major safety risks," the spokesperson said.
The train was taken out of service. It was cleaned and back in service on Monday.
GVB will try to recover its costs from those responsible. It has kept the camera footage for the police.
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