Firework accidents kill two in Netherlands as fire ravages Amsterdam church

The Neo-Gothic Vondelkerk, a 19th-century Roman Catholic church, has been used for other purposes since the 1970s.Published On 1 Jan 2026‌Two people have died in the Netherlands in fireworks ‍accidents, and there ‍were scattered instances of violence as the country celebrated the New Year. In a separate incident, a fire largely destroyed a 19th-century church in Amsterdam.The blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the Neo-Gothic Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overlooked the capital city’s central Vondelpark since 1872.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Five wounded in Amsterdam stabbing attack, police saylist 2 of 3Hundreds of thousands join Amsterdam’s ‘red line’ protest for Gazalist 3 of 3Dutch voters hit polls as immigration fears propel far right towards powerend of listThe 50-metre-high (164-foot) tower collapsed, and the roof was badly damaged, but the structure was expected to remain intact, Amsterdam authorities said.The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Emergency services had brought the fire under control by the morning.There were no injuries in the fire at the church.A large number of flats in the vicinity were evacuated, and about 90 households were temporarily without power.Strong winds fanned the flames and caused sparks to fly.“It is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church,” said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, Dutch media reported. “Our first concern and priority now is the wellbeing and homes of the immediate residents.”The Vondel Church was used as a Roman Catholic church until 1977. Most recently, it was used for other purposes and special occasions such as concerts. In 1904, a fire destroyed the church’s original tower.Separately, the head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported an “unprecedented amount of violence against police and emergency services” across the country over New Year’s Eve, when some 250 people were arrested, and in several towns riot police were deployed.