The accident involved two bin lorries on their way to Beilen to collect waste paper, a van with a trailer and a car with a trailer. According to as yet unconfirmed reports, the car's trailer began to sway and overturned.
Traffic towards Assen came to a complete standstill, with delays of more than half an hour. The slip road onto the N33 at Gieten was closed, so traffic had to take a detour. One lane has now reopened and traffic is slowly starting to move again.
The police are at the scene and are investigating the cause. Recovery firms Hamstra from Tynaarlo and Keizer from Stadskanaal have recovered the vehicles.
