Severe winter gales battered the Netherlands today forcing Amsterdam airport to cancel all flights, bringing Dutch trains to a halt and toppling trucks as winds reached 140 kilometres an hour.<br/><br/>The cancellations notice came shortly after the Dutch national weather service upped its warning to the highest level.<br/><br/>The national weather service said, the westerly storms blowing off the North Sea meant "a code red is in force with very heavy gusts of up to 140 kilometres an hour expected in some areas.<br/><br/>NS, the Dutch national railway company announced that "due to the storm all trains are halted until further notice" apart from a small local service in northern Groningen and southern Limburg.<br/><br/>Many streets were blocked by falling trees and branches, while the national traffic service warned of major problems on the motorways due to blown over trucks.