Two people have died in the Netherlands in fireworks accidents, and there were scattered instances of violence as the country celebrated the New Year. In a separate incident, a fire largely destroyed a 19th-century church in Amsterdam.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the Neo-Gothic Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overlooked the capital city’s central Vondelpark since 1872.
The 50-metre-high (164-foot) tower collapsed, and the roof was badly damaged, but the structure was expected to remain intact, Amsterdam authorities said.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Emergency services had brought the fire under control by the morning.
There were no injuries in the fire at the church.
A large number of flats in the vicinity were evacuated, and about 90 households were temporarily without power.
Strong winds fanned the flames and caused sparks to fly.
“It is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church,” said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, Dutch media reported. “Our first concern and priority now is the wellbeing and homes of the immediate residents.”
The Vondel Church was used as a Roman Catholic church until 1977. Most recently, it was used for other purposes and special occasions such as concerts. In 1904, a fire destroyed the church’s original tower.
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