Historic Vondel Church burns down in Amsterdam on New Year’s Eve: video
1 January 08:49
On January 1, Amsterdam’s New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a tragedy when flames engulfed the tower of the historic Vondel Church. The building completely collapsed as a result of the fire. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the NL Times.
According to representatives of emergency services, the fire caused “sparkling rain,” which forced the authorities to urgently evacuate residents of neighboring buildings and close off nearby streets. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, called the fire “intense and terrible,” emphasizing that the priority now is the safety of people whose homes are located near the monumental monument.
The Vondel Church is one of the most recognizable architectural landmarks in Amsterdam, located on the edge of the famous Vondelpark. It was built between 1872 and 1880. The building is over 150 years old. The project was created by the prominent Dutch architect Pieter Capers, the same master who built the State Museum and Amsterdam Central Station.
The building is a striking example of neo-Gothic. Its feature was the unique octagonal shape of the central hall. In the 1970s, the church was almost demolished due to its state of disrepair, but thanks to community protests, it was saved and restored. In recent decades, the building has not been used for direct religious purposes; it has been used for offices, concerts, weddings, and cultural events.
