by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Firefighters and police rushed to a major blaze at one of Amsterdam’s most famous churches, the Vondelkerk (Vondel Church), less than an hour after the New Year began in the Netherlands. It came in a night when two people died, and numerous others were injured in firework accidents, officials said.
Flames engulfed the church spire, and witnesses said part of the roof collapsed. Police expressed fears that the entire church building could collapse.
The Amsterdam fire brigade said crews were working “with all available manpower” to bring the blaze under control. Part of the tower reportedly collapsed, with debris falling to the ground as flames spread through the structure.
“Flames are shooting out of the roof of the tower,” the fire brigade said. “But the biggest problem is the enormous shower of sparks falling over a wide area. Pieces of wood are also coming down, which is dangerous.”
Emergency services cordoned off the surrounding area as a precaution amid concerns about falling debris and fire spread.
NO INJURIES REPORTED, AUTHORITIES SAY
Fire officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the blaze.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and an investigation is expected once the situation is fully secured.
The Vondelkerk, a well-known landmark in Amsterdam, a fairy-like building with a 50-meter (164-foot) high tower, held Catholic Church services for nearly a century until 1977 before being turned into a cultural venue.
The building has been repurposed as a concert hall, with additional office spaces rented out to businesses.
FIREFIGHTERS WORK OVERTIME
Authorities continued monitoring the situation Thursday as firefighters worked to prevent further damage to the historic structure.
There were no injuries reported.
A massive fire was also raging in a fireworks sales point in the Dutch town of Hillegom, as New Year’s celebrations turned into emergencies in several parts of the Netherlands.
Users of smartphones and other mobile devices received an NL-Alert text message that the emergency phone number 112 had been overwhelmed with calls.
An NL-Alert was also issued due to a fire in Bedum, in the Dutch province of Groningen, where asbestos was released into the air after a gymnasium was engulfed in flames.
DUTCH ILLUMINATING SKIES
It came on a night that the Dutch illuminated the skies with a record 129 million euros ($150 million) in fireworks.
The New Year celebrations also marked the last time that Dutch citizens could buy and use fireworks. That added to frustrations with riot police facing angry crowds in several cities, with some throwing fireworks at them.
Elsewhere in the Netherlands, in the city of Nijmegen, a boy died in a fireworks accident, authorities confirmed. His age has not been disclosed.
In Aalsmeer, a 38-year-old man from the Dutch town died around 2:15 a.m. following a fireworks-related accident.
Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, officials said.
MANY PEOPLE INJURED
In addition, at least three people were reportedly seriously injured in fireworks accidents in Lichtenvoorde and Culemborg in the province of Gelderland, and in Oostwoud in North Holland province.
At the Rotterdam Eye Hospital, fourteen patients were admitted with eye injuries caused by fireworks.
“Most of the patients are minors, and the injuries mainly involved bystanders who were hurt by fireworks set off by others,” the hospital said.
Authorities now hope to prevent similar accidents this year, when even carrying fireworks will be illegal in the Netherlands.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Israel expanded its military campaign against Hezbollah on Monday, striking more than 70 targets across Lebanon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase pressure on the Iranian-backed terror group following a sharp rise in drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel.
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Kansas City can use its public accommodation ordinance to require Christian counselors to counsel gay married couples despite the counselors’ biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organizers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday against sharp criticism from Republicans and former administration officials over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, insisting that any final accord must prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or it will not be signed.
President Donald Trump said Monday that countries involved in negotiations over Iran should be required to join the Abraham Accords, signaling that the White House is seeking to turn a possible Iran agreement into a wider regional realignment that includes normalization with Israel.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Sunday after at least tens of thousands of people demanded elections and rallied against what they view as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, with violence erupting after the protest and more than 20 people arrested.
Investigations were ongoing Sunday into the killing of three senior Kuki-Thadou Christian church leaders by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern Manipur State, Christian investigators told Worthy News.