Netherlands (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Historic Vondelkerk Church in Amsterdam caught fire on New Year’s Day, causing the tower to collapse and prompting the evacuation of nearby homes.
As reported by Kelly-Anne Taylor of The Telegraph, a massive fire destroyed Amsterdam’s 19th-century Vondelkerk Church early on New Year’s Day, bringing down its tower.
How Amsterdam’s Vondelkerk tower collapsed in New Year blaze?
Early on January 1, 2026, a fire engulfed Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk Church, with emergency services receiving reports around 12:45 am.
Social media footage showed flames engulfing the Vondelkerk spire. The 50-meter tower collapsed, and the roof was heavily damaged, while authorities said most of the structure remained standing.
Authorities evacuated homes near the church, with the cause of the fire still unknown. Firefighters continued operations Thursday morning, relying on park water and avoiding entry due to collapse risks.
Emergency services spokesperson said,
“It’s a very large, historic building. There’s a lot of wood, and the wind also allows the fire to spread easily and widely. The church’s characteristic appearance has been lost. It’s a terribly bad and dramatic start to the new year.”
Femke Halsema, the Amsterdam mayor, stated,
“This is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church. Our first concern and priority now is the well-being and homes of the immediate residents.”
The church is located near Leidseplein, Amsterdam’s famous nightlife district, and is close to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. The fire occurred during New Year’s celebrations, leaving two people dead in fireworks incidents and police facing severe attacks.
How did police respond to New Year’s fireworks violence and injuries?
Nine Kooiman, head of the Dutch Police Union, said she faced three separate attacks from fireworks and explosives during her Amsterdam shift.
After midnight, Dutch officials issued a rare nationwide alert, urging people to contact emergency services only for urgent, life-threatening cases.
Reports of violence against firefighters and police were widespread, with petrol bombs thrown at law enforcement in southern Breda.
Fireworks killed a 17-year-old in Nijmegen and a 38-year-old in Aalsmeer. Three more people were badly hurt. Rotterdam’s Eye Hospital treated 14 people, including 10 children, and two needed surgery.
Despite a planned ban on unofficial fireworks, Dutch residents purchased large quantities to celebrate the New Year, with the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association reporting record spending of €129m (£112m).
Certain areas were declared firework-free zones, but the restrictions seemed largely ineffective.
Which places caught fire around the world on New Year’s Eve?
Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk Church, a 19th-century cultural landmark, was badly damaged in a large fire that brought down its tower. The cause remains under investigation.
In Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the “Le Constellation” bar was hit by a fire and explosion early at 1:30 am, resulting in multiple casualties.
On December 31, 2025, Bielefeld, Germany, saw two teenagers killed in separate fireworks-related accidents.
On New Year’s Eve 2024, five people died in fireworks accidents in Germany. In Honolulu, a big illegal fireworks explosion at a house party killed six people and hurt about 24 others, the deadliest fireworks accident in Hawai’i’s history.
When was Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk Church built?
The Vondelkerk Church in Amsterdam was constructed between 1872 and 1879 and officially opened in 1880. It was designed by renowned Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, the mind behind the Rijksmuseum and Central Station.
When completed, the church became the world’s first church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It functioned as a Roman Catholic church until 1977.
Long before the 2026 blaze, the church had previously suffered a major fire in November 1904, which destroyed its original spire and tower. The tower was later rebuilt by architect Joseph Cuypers, son of the original designer.
