Fire in Amsterdam: On New Year's Eve, the century-old Vondelkerk church burned down.

According to ТСН: In the Netherlands, New Year's celebrations turned into a tragedy. In the early hours of 2026, the century-old Vondelkerk church, one of the city's main tourist attractions, caught fire in Amsterdam.

Fire in the Vondelkerk church and fatalities during the riots

The causes of the fire in this historical church have not yet been established, but it is known that the 50-meter tower collapsed, and the roof suffered significant damage.

The head of the police union, Nienke Kooyman, reported that on the eve of the holiday, the police were bombarded with fireworks, resulting in an "unprecedented level of violence." As a result, a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man lost their lives.

In Rotterdam, 14 people, mostly minors, sought medical help for eye injuries, two of whom required surgery. In Breda, the police were attacked by protesters who used Molotov cocktails.

The Dutch authorities announced that as of 2026, there will be a ban on unlicensed fireworks. In the previous year, a record 129 million euros was spent on purchasing fireworks.

It should be noted that on December 31 in Switzerland, there was an explosion in a bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, resulting in fatalities and several injuries.

It is worth noting that the events that took place during the celebrations caused significant public outrage, as violence and injuries were a regrettable outcome of the New Year's celebrations. The authorities are responding swiftly to the situation, which could lead to changes in legislation regarding the use of fireworks to prevent similar tragedies in the future.