The New Year’s Eve celebration in the Netherlands turned chaotic, with the historic Vondelkerk church in the capital city of Amsterdam engulfed in a fire that caused its iconic 50-meter tower spire to collapse. Additionally, unprecedented acts of violence and fireworks accidents across the country led to at least 2 deaths and several hundred arrests.
Constructed in 1872, the Vondelkerk church is a famous landmark in Amsterdam, designed by the renowned architect of the Dutch National Museum, Pierre Cuypers.
The building features a Neo-Gothic design with a Basilica-style interior structure. The fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day, rapidly engulfing the building and causing the towering church spire to collapse.
Authorities stated that the roof suffered severe damage, and while the main structure is expected to remain intact, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Apart from the historic church in the capital being ravaged by fire, tragic incidents involving fireworks unfolded across the Netherlands on New Year’s Eve.
In Nijmegen and Aalsmeer, a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man lost their lives in fireworks accidents.
In Rotterdam, an eye hospital admitted 14 patients, most of whom were minors, with some requiring eye surgery.
Simultaneously, there were ongoing clashes between law enforcement and civilians, leading to the arrest of 250 individuals across the Netherlands on New Year’s Eve. Nine Kooiman, the chairwoman of the Dutch Police Union, described the unprecedented level of violence in this Western European country on New Year’s Eve. In the southern city of Breda, individuals even threw petrol bombs at the police.
Starting from the 2026/2027 New Year, the Netherlands will officially ban the sale of F2 category consumer fireworks, following record-breaking fireworks purchases of 129 million euros by the public in 2025.
Similarly, on New Year’s Eve in Bielefeld, Germany, local authorities reported that two 18-year-olds died after setting off homemade fireworks.
(This article references reports from Reuters, BBC, and Agence France-Presse)