Farewell, spire: how a single salvo turned a church into ruins (2 photos + 3 videos)
Category: Architecture, Interior, PEGI 0+
Yesterday, 14:50
Amsterdammers decided to start the year brightly, literally. On the night of January 1, 2026, the neo-Gothic Vondelkerk, a jewel of the 1872–80s designed by Pierre Cuypers (the same architect who gave the world the Rijksmuseum), suddenly transformed into a gigantic New Year's bonfire. 
Around 1:00 AM, the tower burst into flames, the spire collapsed with a dramatic roar, and the roof and central section crumbled, leaving only the walls like the sad skeleton of a former beauty.
Officially, the cause of the fire is "under investigation," but everyone understands: in a city where fireworks are banned, yet people still fire off salutes like it's their last, sparks were flying everywhere. Just one such "innocent" volley, and a 150-year-old monument was destroyed.
Authorities evacuated residents of dozens of houses, cordoned off the area, and firefighters fought the fire until lunchtime. There were no injuries, but the cultural heritage suffered fatally: the church was declared "unsalvageable."
Here's the irony: the Dutch were so eager to bid farewell to the era of homemade fireworks that they accidentally set fire to one of their main landmarks. Now, instead of concerts and weddings, the ancient church is reduced to ruins and memorial photos of "how beautiful it used to be."
It was truly beautiful.
