Unprecedented Violence Marks New Year's Eve in the Netherlands

Thu Jan 01 2026 17:04:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Dutch police faced an overwhelming level of violence during New Year's Eve celebrations, with serious incidents across the country, including a fire at a historic church in Amsterdam.

This New Year's Eve in the Netherlands was marred by significant violence against police, with fireworks and petrol bombs being used in multiple incidents. The historic Vondelkerk church in Amsterdam caught fire, and there were fatalities due to fireworks in Rotterdam. Police reported that the level of violence was unprecedented, prompting discussions about tighter regulations on fireworks in the future.

Police in the Netherlands experienced an 'unprecedented amount of violence' on New Year's Eve, with incidents including rocks and fireworks being hurled at officers and significant injuries reported.

A historic church, Vondelkerk, located in Amsterdam and dating back to 1872, was severely damaged by fire early on New Year's Day, although the cause is currently unknown.

In other tragic news, two individuals, a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man, lost their lives in fireworks incidents in Rotterdam. Similarly, in Bielefeld, Germany, two 18-year-olds died from mishaps involving homemade fireworks.

The head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, described the violence she faced as 'unprecedented,' confirming that she was directly targeted by fireworks while on duty in Amsterdam. Reports of violent attacks on police and emergency services were widespread, with significant injuries, including eye trauma, being treated at hospitals in Rotterdam.

In Breda, petrol bombs were thrown at police officers, raising serious concerns about public safety during the celebrations. Apart from the damage to the church, which suffered a roof collapse, the neo-Gothic Vondelkerk is anticipated to remain structurally intact.

In light of these events, there are discussions about implementing a ban on unofficial fireworks starting in 2026, following a record expenditure of €129 million on fireworks for the New Year.

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