Police in the Netherlands faced an unprecedented amount of violence during New Year's Eve celebrations, with officers reporting to have been attacked with fireworks. Among the events of the night, a historic church, the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam, was engulfed in flames, although the cause remains unknown. The Vondelkerk, a neo-Gothic basilica completed in 1872, has long been a tourist attraction overlooking Vondelpark.
This year's celebrations were particularly tragic, as a 17-year-old and a 38-year-old lost their lives in Rotterdam due to fireworks incidents. In a similar case in Bielefeld, Germany, two 18-year-olds died while handling homemade fireworks.
Head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported being targeted by projectiles during her patrol in Amsterdam, characterizing the violence as unprecedented. Reports indicated widespread attacks against police and firefighters across the Netherlands, with petrol bombs thrown at law enforcement in Breda. Additionally, Rotterdam's eye hospital treated 14 patients suffering eye injuries due to fireworks, including 10 minors, with two requiring surgery.
In Amsterdam, the 50-metre high spire of Vondelkerk collapsed as firefighters battled the flames; while the roof sustained severe damage, the church structure itself is anticipated to stay intact despite the devastation.
In light of the chaos, a ban on unofficial fireworks is set to be introduced in 2026, responding to concerns raised about public safety amidst the reported €129 million spent on fireworks this year, a record amount by the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association.
This year's celebrations were particularly tragic, as a 17-year-old and a 38-year-old lost their lives in Rotterdam due to fireworks incidents. In a similar case in Bielefeld, Germany, two 18-year-olds died while handling homemade fireworks.
Head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported being targeted by projectiles during her patrol in Amsterdam, characterizing the violence as unprecedented. Reports indicated widespread attacks against police and firefighters across the Netherlands, with petrol bombs thrown at law enforcement in Breda. Additionally, Rotterdam's eye hospital treated 14 patients suffering eye injuries due to fireworks, including 10 minors, with two requiring surgery.
In Amsterdam, the 50-metre high spire of Vondelkerk collapsed as firefighters battled the flames; while the roof sustained severe damage, the church structure itself is anticipated to stay intact despite the devastation.
In light of the chaos, a ban on unofficial fireworks is set to be introduced in 2026, responding to concerns raised about public safety amidst the reported €129 million spent on fireworks this year, a record amount by the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association.
