Fire on New Year’s Night Reduces a Beloved Amsterdam Landmark to Ashes, Leaving a City in Mourning
A fire, believed to have been caused by New Year’s fireworks, broke out in the spire of the Vondelchurch in central Amsterdam shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day. The flames spread rapidly through the church’s wooden tower, causing the neo-Gothic structure to collapse.
The Vondelchurch, completed in 1880 and out of use since 1977, was a well-known landmark near Vondelpark. Firefighters evacuated nearby residents and cordoned off surrounding streets while tackling the blaze through the night. By early morning, the building was largely destroyed, with only scorched brick walls left standing. Local authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire.
