World

Amsterdam church ravaged by fire on New Year's Eve

Jan 2, 2026

Amsterdamâ€™s Vondelkerk fire — A 19th century church in Amsterdam was engulfed by fire in the early hours of New Year's Day. -EPA

A fire on New Year's Eve has largely destroyed a 153-year-old church in Amsterdam.

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The blaze broke out in the spire of the Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overlooked Dutch city's Vondelpark since 1872.

The 50-metre-high tower and the roof of church collapsed on New Year's Day, officials said.

Nearby residents were urged to leave their homes while firefighters tried to contain the blaze.

By early morning, little remained of the historic structure beyond its scorched brick walls, leaving locals shocked at the loss of one of Amsterdam's quieter treasures.

A structural engineer determined the walls of the church would remain standing and that there was no further risk of collapse, the authorities reported.

"It is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church," Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said.

"Our first concern and priority now is the wellbeing and homes of the immediate residents."

The neo-Gothic church was used as a Roman Catholic church until 1977 before becoming a venue for special occasions such as concerts.