Amsterdam mayor says landmark church fire a loss for the city; 52 arrests there on NYE

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema expressed her sorrow on social media over the destruction of the Vondelkerk during New Year’s Eve. The church, built in 1880 near Vondelpark, suffered severe fire damage, with its tower, part of the central nave, and much of the roof collapsing. “Last night, Amsterdam lost one of its most cherished monuments,” Halsema wrote, having visited the scene herself during the night.

“From the laying of its first stone in 1872, the church has served not only as a place of worship but as the heart of an Amsterdam neighborhood,” the mayor said. “For many residents, it was a landmark, a silent companion throughout their lives in the community, from childhood to old age.”

Until 1977, the church served as a Roman Catholic place of worship. Afterwards, it became a venue for concerts, lectures, and celebrations. Halsema noted how visitors were “enchanted” by its acoustics and ambiance. “Generations of Amsterdammers hold dear memories of this building. Through those memories, our Vondelkerk continues to live on as a space for faith, culture, and community.”

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., the fire brigade announced that the church fire was under control. The cause of the blaze remains unknown. Residents say the fire may have been sparked by fireworks. Police are investigating this possibility, though a spokesperson has yet to comment.

Stadsherstel Amsterdam, the organization responsible for restoring and maintaining historic buildings, described the Vondelkerk fire as unimaginable. “We will first examine the damage and then decide on the next steps,” a spokesperson said. The group has owned the church since 1996; much of it was destroyed during New Year’s celebrations.

“The loss of this beautiful church is felt by everyone,” she said. “Our thoughts are with the local residents, the church’s regular tenants who have lost their workspaces, and all those who had booked the Vondelkerk for weddings, corporate events, concerts, or other special moments. We are doing everything possible today and in the coming days to see how we can help them.”

According to Stadsherstel, the church’s tower, which has now collapsed, stood 50 meters tall. The cruciform basilica was designed by Pierre Cuypers (1827–1921) of Roermond, who created dozens of churches across the Netherlands as well as Amsterdam’s Central Station and the Rijksmuseum.

Cuypers lived on Vondelstraat in one of the 19 houses he designed there, with a clear view of the church. “He considered the Vondelkerk his most beautiful church,” the website notes. The church was taken out of use in 1977 and fell into decay, but the Vondelkerk Foundation was founded in 1984 to save it from demolition.

A spokesperson for the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region said in the early afternoon that local residents near the Vondelkerk would be able to return to their homes later in the day after the fire.

Dozens of residents spent New Year’s Eve at a shelter on the P.C. Hooftstraat. Emergency services are prioritizing their return home by Thursday afternoon, according to the spokesperson. Soon after the fire began, homes surrounding the church were evacuated. As a safety measure, many residences between Vondelstraat and Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat were also cleared.

“The fire, fortunately, did not reach the homes,” the spokesperson said. The city will sweep the street, but soot particles may have settled in nearby gardens or on vehicles. The Safety Region advises residents to carefully rinse these particles off with water and soap.

Amsterdam city authorities described the Vondelkerk fire as “a tragic low point” of New Year’s Eve. “An iconic Amsterdam monument has been destroyed,” the municipality stated in a press release. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Amsterdam authorities described this year’s New Year’s Eve as turbulent. Besides the major Vondelkerk fire, the Mobile Unit was deployed multiple times, and at least 11 incidents were reported in which emergency workers were subjected to aggression and violence, including being hit with fireworks.

The city reported a tense atmosphere in several locations. “Violent incidents targeting emergency personnel are on the rise, and the misuse of (illegal) fireworks makes it unsafe for police, enforcement officers, firefighters, and ambulance staff to do their jobs,” the city said in a joint statement with the police and the Public Prosecution Service. “This night has once again underlined the necessity of a nationwide fireworks ban.”

Police in Amsterdam arrested 52 people for various offenses on New Year’s Eve. Ambulance services were dispatched 275 times, and the fire brigade over 300 times. This represents a significant increase compared with last year, according to the city, police, and Public Prosecution Service.