Fire in Amsterdam destroys historic Vondelkerk church
A large-scale fire broke out in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve in the historic Vondelkerk church, built in 1872. According to the local security service, the building is beyond saving, the fire has completely engulfed the church, and due to the high intensity of the fire, the roof and elements of the tower have partially collapsed. Rescuers warn that the building may collapse completely. This is reported by The Public with reference to the NLTimes.
The danger led to the evacuation of people in the surrounding area. The fire also caused a power outage in about 90 houses in the area. There were no reports of injuries, and the nearby Vondelpark was not threatened. The cause of the fire is under investigation
Vondelkerk has functioned as a Roman Catholic church for more than a century, and since 1977 has been used as an event venue and small business location
Aside from Amsterdam, other fires broke out in the Netherlands overnight. In Hellevuitsleis, 40 to 45 residents were evacuated from their apartments after a fire broke out in an underground car park under a building. In Hillehomme, the authorities issued an NL Alert after a large fire at a mattress warehouse, advising people to stay away from the scene, close windows and avoid smoke. There were no reports of injuries in these incidents
