First railway opens in the Netherlands

The opening of the Amsterdam-Haarlem line on September 5, 1839, introduced steam-powered rail travel to the Netherlands with the locomotive De Arend hauling wooden carriages over a 16 km track. Built by the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij, engineers overcame challenges from the region's peat bogs by using innovative pile foundations. This event sparked rapid network expansion, connecting major cities and stimulating economic growth during the Industrial Revolution. Notable passengers included Dutch royalty, and the line's success encouraged further investment in rail infrastructure across Europe.