The Netherlands' New Year started violently, with a major church fire, fatal fireworks explosions, and assaults on police and other officials at multiple locations nationwide.
On Thursday, 1 Jan 2026 GMT+7, a major fire severely damaged the historic 19th-century Vondelkerk church in Amsterdam, causing its 50-meter tower to collapse and badly damaging the roof.
Amsterdam authorities said although the fire caused severe damage to the church built in 1872, most of the structure is expected to remain intact. The fire's cause remains unknown.
Meanwhile, Nine Coyman, chair of the Dutch Police Union, reported unprecedented violence against police and emergency services on New Year's Eve, including being struck three times by fireworks and explosives while on duty in Amsterdam.
Shortly after midnight, Dutch authorities issued a nationwide emergency alert via mobile phones, a rare step, warning citizens not to call emergency services unless facing life-threatening situations due to heavy demand.
Reports of assaults on police and firefighters spread nationwide; in Breda, southern Netherlands, groups threw Molotov cocktails at police officers.
There were also fireworks-related accidents resulting in two deaths—a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man—and three others seriously injured.
An eye hospital in Rotterdam treated 14 patients with eye injuries on New Year's Eve, including 10 youths; two required surgery.
The year 2025 was the last before the Netherlands officially banned fireworks for non-official events, prompting many to stockpile fireworks for celebrations.
The Dutch Fireworks Traders Association reported record sales of fireworks and pyrotechnics, totaling 129 million euros (about 4.76 billion baht), by tourists and celebrants.
Although some areas were designated firework-free zones, enforcement had limited effect; AFP reporters in The Hague's no-fireworks zone heard continuous explosions until about 03:00 on New Year's Day.
In Belgium, police arrested many offenders after fireworks attacks on officials in Brussels and Antwerp, despite a ban on fireworks use on New Year's Day failing to prevent unrest in the two major cities.
A police spokesperson told AFP that in Antwerp, officers used tear gas and detained over 100 people, including youths as young as 10 or 11, who attacked police and emergency workers with fireworks and stones, and set bicycles, cars, and trash bins on fire.
Authorities also seized a large quantity of fireworks classified as “highly dangerous.”
In Brussels, police reported repeated fireworks attacks and arrested about 70 offenders throughout the New Year's Eve night.
In Germany, local police announced that two 18-year-old youths died in Bielefeld, western Germany, after homemade fireworks caused severe facial injuries leading to their deaths.
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Source:cna