A huge fire broke out at the historic Vondelkerk (Vondel Church) in Amsterdam in the early hours after New Year celebrations, causing the church tower to fall down and forcing residents nearby to evacuate.

The blaze began shortly after midnight on Thursday, January 1, 2026, not long after people had welcomed the New Year. Emergency services received the first calls for help around 12:45 am. By the time firefighters and police reached the Vondelkerk, flames were already spreading fast through the tall church tower, sending thick, dark smoke high into the night sky near Vondelpark.

The fire was immediately treated as a major incident. Authorities warned that the full building might collapse if the blaze continued. Within a few hours, the church tower — part of the 154-year-old structure — completely collapsed as firefighters tried but failed to control the flames.

As the fire continued into its second hour, parts of the roof and the upper sections of the church also broke away from the main building.

Officials from the Amsterdam-Amstelland Emergency Services Region said the fire produced a “huge shower of sparks,” and burning bits of old wood were carried eastward by the wind toward the city centre.

Shortly before 2 am, an NL-Alert was sent to people living nearby. The alert warned residents to stay inside, close all windows and doors, and turn off ventilation systems because of the heavy smoke drifting through the area.

As a safety measure, firefighters went house to house, ringing doorbells and helping residents leave their homes. Streets around the church were closed off, and many people watched from a distance as the fire consumed one of Amsterdam’s well-known historic landmarks.

Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, spoke about the incident during the fire response. She said, “This is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church.”

“Our first concern and priority now is the well-being and homes of the immediate residents.”

As the situation worsened, authorities raised the alarm to a Grip 2 regional disaster, which allowed more emergency personnel from outside Amsterdam to help. A Regional Operational Team was also set up to manage the crisis.

The Vondelkerk was built in 1872 and originally served as a Roman Catholic Church until 1977. Since then, it has been used for events and small businesses. According to officials, the cause of the fire is still under investigation while emergency responders continue their work at the devastated site.