A historic 19th-century landmark was destroyed as police across the Netherlands reported extraordinary levels of unrest.
As Amsterdam rang in the New Year, an iconic European church was burned to the ground amid what police described as “unprecedented” violence across the Netherlands.
The Vondelkerk, a neo-Gothic basilica built in 1872 beside the capital’s famous Vondelpark, was engulfed in flames during the night. The blaze caused the collapse of the church’s 50-meter tower and severe damage to the roof. While the precise cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed, it occurred as gangs ran wild with fireworks throughout the city.
Police officers across the Netherlands reported being attacked with fireworks and other explosives. The head of the Netherlands Police Union, Nine Kooiman, said officers faced an “unprecedented amount of violence” during New Year’s Eve operations, adding that she herself was pelted with fireworks while on duty in Amsterdam.