Unprecedented Violence Marks New Year's Eve in the Netherlands

Thu Jan 01 2026 17:00:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As celebrations turned chaotic, Dutch police faced significant violence on New Year's Eve, with incidents reported across the country and a historic church in Amsterdam catching fire.

On New Year's Eve, police in the Netherlands were subjected to unprecedented violence, including being attacked with fireworks. A historic church in Amsterdam, the Vondelkerk, was engulfed in flames, and multiple injuries were reported in hotspots like Rotterdam, reflecting the nights of chaos that broke out during celebrations.

Police in the Netherlands were pelted with fireworks and faced an unprecedented amount of violence on New Year's Eve, officers have said.

A 19th century church in Amsterdam was engulfed by fire in the early hours of New Year's Day, although the cause of the blaze is not yet known.

The Vondelkerk, which overlooks the largest park in the city, the Vondelpark, has been a tourist attraction since it was built in 1872.

Elsewhere, in Rotterdam, a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man were killed in fireworks incidents. In Bielefeld, Germany, local police said two 18-year-olds died after setting off homemade fireworks.

The head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, reported experiencing attacks while on duty in Amsterdam. Reports of violence against police and firefighters emerged nationwide, with petrol bombs thrown in Breda.

Both police and medical facilities in Rotterdam treated numerous patients for eye injuries caused by fireworks, with some requiring surgery. In Amsterdam, the iconic Vondelkerk church suffered severe damage during the celebrations.

The neo-Gothic structure, designed by architect Pierre Cuypers, is expected to remain standing despite damage to its roof and the collapse of the tower.

A ban on unofficial fireworks is set to be enacted in 2026, following a record spending of €129 million on fireworks during the celebrations this year.