General

A historic church in Amsterdam suffered significant damage after a fire broke out in its spire during the early hours of New Year’s Day. The Vondelkerk, located next to the well-known Vondelpark in the Dutch capital, collapsed while festivities for 2026 were taking place. The fire is believed to have ignited just after midnight and was quickly labeled as a major fire, prompting a regional emergency response. By 2:30 am local time, the flames were still intense, and authorities warned residents about heavy smoke in the area. The fire led to power outages affecting nearly 100 homes nearby. Dramatic photos from Amsterdam captured flames and smoke rising from the 154-year-old church into the night sky. A spokesperson for emergency services mentioned that burning embers with “old wood” were drifting toward the city center. Officials stated that the church “cannot be saved” and indicated that the entire building might soon collapse. The spokesperson added, “The church’s distinctive look has been lost. [It’s a] terribly bad and dramatic start to the new year.”