Last Updated:January 02, 2026, 10:55 IST
Netherlands police faced unprecedented violence on New Year’s Eve, with attacks in Amsterdam, Breda, and Rotterdam, 2 deaths, Vondelkerk fire, and 250 arrests amid fireworks chaos.
Netherlands police faced unprecedented violence on New Year’s Eve, with attacks in Amsterdam, Breda, and Rotterdam, 2 deaths, Vondelkerk fire, and 250 arrests amid fireworks chaos. (Pic: Getty Images)
Police in the Netherlands described facing an “unprecedented” level of violence during New Year’s Eve celebrations as they responded to widespread disorder across the country, officers said. Reports indicated that officers were attacked with fireworks and other explosives in multiple cities, including Amsterdam, Breda and Rotterdam, forcing a significant police response.
The chaos coincided with fireworks-related incidents that killed at least two people, a 17-year-old in Nijmegen and a 38-year-old in Aalsmeer, as crowds set off heavy pyrotechnics across the country.
In Amsterdam, a fire engulfed the historic Vondelkerk, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church near Vondelpark, causing extensive damage as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Officers also reported numerous attacks against emergency services and firefighters, with petrol bombs and other projectiles thrown at police, prompting around 250 arrests nationwide as authorities worked to restore order.
The incidents occurred ahead of a planned nationwide ban on the sale of consumer fireworks starting in 2026, a move aimed at reducing injuries and damage during holiday celebrations after record sales in the lead-up to this year’s festivities.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
January 02, 2026, 10:55 IST
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