Police in the Netherlands say they faced an “unprecedented amount of violence” during New Year’s Eve celebrations, as officers and firefighters were attacked with fireworks and petrol bombs in several cities. Two people were killed in fireworks-related incidents, while a historic Amsterdam church was badly damaged by fire.
In Amsterdam, the 19th-century Vondelkerk – a neo-Gothic landmark overlooking the popular Vondelpark – was engulfed in flames in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The 50-metre tower collapsed and the roof was severely damaged, though authorities said the remaining structure is expected to stay intact. The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and investigators have not ruled out a link to fireworks.
Nationwide, emergency services reported widespread attacks as revellers rang in the new year with heavy pyrotechnics despite growing calls for tighter controls. Nine Kooiman, head of the Dutch Police Union, said she was personally pelted with fireworks and other explosives while on duty in Amsterdam, describing the level of violence as unlike anything officers had previously experienced.
In the southern city of Breda, petrol bombs were thrown at police, while in Rotterdam the city’s eye hospital treated 14 patients for fireworks-related eye injuries, 10 of them minors. Two patients required surgery.
Local media reported that a 17-year-old boy from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer were killed in separate fireworks incidents. Details of the circumstances have not yet been fully released, but prosecutors have opened investigations.
The chaos comes as the Netherlands prepares to tighten rules on consumer pyrotechnics. A nationwide ban on unofficial or private fireworks is due to take effect in 2026, following years of debate over the mounting toll of injuries, fires and assaults on emergency workers each New Year’s Eve.
Despite the looming ban, Dutch spending on fireworks hit a record €129m (£112m) this year, according to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, underscoring the popularity of the tradition and the scale of the challenge facing authorities.
Fire brigades and medical professionals have renewed calls for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns, warning that New Year’s celebrations are becoming increasingly dangerous for both the public and first responders.
