The **X post** from **@libsoftiktok** shares a video of a massive fire engulfing the historic **Vondelkerk** (Vondel Church) in Amsterdam, claiming it "burned to the ground" on New Year's Eve (into January 1, 2026).


### What happened?

A devastating fire broke out at the **Vondelkerk**, a 154-year-old neo-Gothic church near Vondelpark in Amsterdam-West, shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026, during New Year's celebrations. The blaze started around 12:45 a.m., rapidly spreading to the spire and roof. The tower completely collapsed, and authorities declared the building "no longer salvageable." Nearby homes were evacuated due to falling debris and heavy smoke, with power cut to about 90 residences. An NL-Alert warned residents to avoid smoke. No injuries were reported from this incident.


The church, built in 1872 by architect Pierre Cuypers (designer of the Rijksmuseum), served as a Roman Catholic parish until 1977. It had since been repurposed for cultural events, concerts, offices, and small businesses.


Here are images of the fire:


### Cause of the fire

The cause is still **under investigation** by authorities. Many reports note the timing coincided with widespread **New Year's fireworks** across the Netherlands (the last year before a planned consumer fireworks ban in some areas). Some eyewitness accounts and media speculated fireworks may have struck the structure, but this has not been officially confirmed. Other possibilities mentioned include old electrical wiring, though no evidence points to arson or deliberate attack.


### Context and reactions

New Year's Eve 2025–2026 was chaotic in the Netherlands, with multiple major fires (e.g., a fireworks warehouse in Hillegom and a gym in Groningen), two deaths from fireworks accidents, and reports of violence against emergency services. On X, replies to the post often speculated about intentional causes, including anti-Christian motives or links to immigration/Muslim communities, with comments like "future engineers" or direct accusations. However, these claims lack evidence from official sources (e.g., NL Times, BBC), which treat it as likely accidental amid fireworks chaos.


Here are images of the Vondelkerk before the fire for comparison:


This is a tragic loss of a cultural landmark, and updates may come as the investigation progresses.