At least two people were killed in fireworks-related incidents during New Year celebrations in the Netherlands, highlighting once again the dangers associated with the country’s long-standing festive traditions.
The victims included a 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man. According to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, the Netherlands traditionally marks the New Year with widespread use of fireworks, a practice that results in hundreds of injuries and millions of euros in damage every year.
Police said that approximately 250 people were arrested nationwide on New Year’s Eve, while riot police were deployed in several cities to contain unrest. In a statement issued on Thursday, authorities noted that the impact of heavy fireworks and arson in some areas at the start of the New Year was “severely destructive.”
“Violence against emergency services and police once again escalated to an intense level,” the police statement said.
In a separate incident, a historic church in central Amsterdam was destroyed by fire. According to the BBC, the church—built in 1872—was engulfed in flames, though the exact cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
Authorities of the historic Vondelkerk church said the blaze caused the collapse of its 50-metre-high tower and severely damaged the roof. However, they expressed hope that the main structure of the building could still be preserved.
Amsterdam police and the fire department confirmed that an investigation is underway, but no official comment has yet been made regarding the cause of the fire at the 19th-century church.
The Netherlands is set to introduce a nationwide ban on fireworks starting in 2026. According to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, a record €129 million was spent on fireworks in the country last year.
Source: Al Jazeera