Home / Disasters and Accidents / New Year Chaos: 2 Dead, Churches Burned, Police Attacked
New Year Chaos: 2 Dead, Churches Burned, Police Attacked
1 Jan
Summary
- Two individuals died in separate fireworks incidents on New Year's Eve.
- Emergency services faced unprecedented violence, with police reporting attacks.
- A historic 19th-century Amsterdam church was destroyed by fire.
The Netherlands ushered in the New Year with tragedy and chaos, as two lives were lost in separate fireworks-related incidents. A 17-year-old in Nijmegen and a 38-year-old in Aalsmeer died due to fireworks accidents, with investigations ongoing for the teenager's death. The night also saw "unprecedented" levels of violence directed at police and emergency responders across the country, including attacks with fireworks and petrol bombs in cities like Breda. A rare nationwide mobile alert was issued to discourage non-emergency calls to overwhelmed services.
In Amsterdam, a massive fire engulfed the Vondelkerk Church, a 19th-century landmark, causing its 164ft tower to collapse and the roof to sustain severe damage. The blaze forced dozens of homes to be evacuated and prompted power outages in the vicinity. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Meanwhile, hospitals nationwide reported a surge in fireworks-related injuries, with a significant portion of patients being minors, particularly at Rotterdam's eye hospital, which saw 85% of its patients injured while watching fireworks.
