Police across the Netherlands faced what they described as an unprecedented level of violence during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with officers and emergency workers coming under attack from fireworks and explosives. In several cities, police reported being pelted with fireworks, petrol bombs and other dangerous objects, creating chaotic and hazardous conditions as authorities struggled to maintain order.

The violence coincided with a series of tragic incidents linked to fireworks. A 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man were killed in separate fireworks-related accidents, while hospitals reported numerous injuries, including severe eye damage. In Rotterdam alone, an eye hospital treated 14 patients, many of them minors, with two requiring surgery. Clashes between groups were also reported in areas such as The Hague’s Transvaal district.

Amid the unrest, a major fire broke out at Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk church, engulfing the 19th-century neo-Gothic basilica and causing the collapse of its 50-metre tower. While the cause of the fire remains unclear, authorities said the main structure is expected to remain standing despite heavy roof damage. The incidents have intensified debate around fireworks, with a nationwide ban on unofficial fireworks scheduled to take effect in 2026 after record spending this year.

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