A large fire destroyed a 19th-century church in Amsterdam on Thursday, January 1, as the Netherlands experienced a turbulent New Year’s Eve marked by two deaths from fireworks and widespread violence against law enforcement.
The blaze erupted in the early hours at the Vondelkerk, a landmark church overlooking a prominent city park since 1872. The church’s 50-meter-high tower collapsed, and the roof sustained significant damage. Authorities stated that while the structure itself is expected to remain standing, the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
The head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported an unprecedented level of violence directed towards police and emergency services. She personally experienced being targeted with fireworks and other explosives during her shift in Amsterdam. Shortly after midnight, a rare nationwide alert was issued via mobile phones, urging citizens not to contact emergency services unless lives were in immediate danger due to the overwhelming volume of calls.
Reports of attacks against police and firefighters were widespread throughout the country. In Breda, individuals threw petrol bombs at police officers.
Two people, a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man, died in fireworks-related accidents. Three others sustained serious injuries. The eye hospital in Rotterdam treated 14 patients, including 10 minors, for eye injuries, with two requiring surgery.
The New Year’s Eve celebrations occurred just before an expected nationwide ban on unauthorized fireworks. As a result, Dutch residents purchased a record amount of fireworks, totaling €129 million ($151 million), according to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association. While some areas were designated as firework-free zones, these restrictions appeared to have limited impact. An AFP journalist in a designated zone in The Hague reported persistent loud noises until approximately 3 am.
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