Vondelkerk in Amsterdam Largely Destroyed by Early New Year’s Day Fire

A deconsecrated 19th-century church in Amsterdam was largely destroyed by a fire in the early hours of New Year’s Day, prompting evacuations and extensive damage to the cultural monument. The blaze at the Vondelkerk began at about 12:45 a.m., local authorities said, sending flames through the church’s neo-Gothic spire.

Firefighters brought the fire under control by roughly 11 a.m., but the roof was ravaged and the tower collapsed. Strong winds spread sparks and burning debris into the surrounding area. Nearby homes were evacuated overnight, their power supplies cut off, and a makeshift shelter temporarily housed dozens of displaced people.

Marco de Leeuw, a spokesman for the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region, said there was no sign anyone had been inside the church at the time and that no deaths were expected. Fire crews had not yet entered the building by midday because it remained unsafe. The cause of the fire had not been determined.

Police and fire investigators were set to begin a probe that officials said could take weeks. The blaze occurred amid heavy New Year’s fireworks in the area, prompting online speculation they may have played a role. Built in the 1870s and designed by Pierre Cuypers, the Vondelkerk had been deconsecrated and used for cultural events after a late-20th-century renovation.

Key Topics

World, European Union, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Fire, Heritage, Church