A Bloody New Year's Eve: Fireworks Chaos Sweeps the Netherlands
The Netherlands welcomed the year 2026 with massive fireworks displays, champagne, and light shows, but the celebrations were overshadowed by deadly incidents, serious injuries, and large fires, in addition to an unprecedented wave of violence against emergency teams.
Despite a ban on fireworks in several municipalities, record amounts were launched across the country. This led to several serious incidents, including fatalities. In Nijmegen, a minor was killed in a fireworks-related accident. The newspaper De Gelderlander reported that the victim was 16 years old, although the police have not yet officially confirmed his age. In Almere, a 38-year-old man died as a result of a fireworks accident, and the police are investigating whether illegal materials were used.
Emergency services have experienced immense pressure across the country. Shortly after midnight, an NL-Alert (National Alert System) was sent urging citizens to call the emergency number 112 only in life-threatening situations due to severe congestion on emergency lines.
In Amsterdam, a large fire broke out at the historic Vondelkerk (Vondel Church) near Vondelpark. The fire started in the church tower shortly before 1 AM, leading to the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes due to the heavy sparks. After initial fears of a complete collapse, authorities later confirmed that the risk of collapse had passed, and no injuries were reported. Although residents suspected that fireworks may have reached the tower, firefighters have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire.
Hospitals recorded alarming numbers of injuries. At Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam (Rotterdam Eye Hospital), 14 people were treated for eye injuries caused by fireworks during the night. Unlike previous years, minors made up about 85 percent of the injured, which doctors described as a serious change in trend. More injured individuals are expected to come forward during the daytime.
Emergency personnel were not spared from violence. Police and firefighters were pelted with fireworks and other objects in several cities. In Breda, police were attacked with Molotov cocktails and paving stones, while a police car in Transvaalwijk (Transvaal district) in The Hague was bombarded with heavy fireworks. The head of the Nederlandse Politiebond (Dutch Police Union), Nynke Kooijman, described what happened as 'unprecedented violence,' confirming that she had personally been targeted several times while working in Amsterdam.
The authorities were expecting greater disturbances due to the impending implementation of the nationwide ban on fireworks. Although 20 municipalities imposed a local ban, compliance was limited. According to the organization Pyrotechniek Nederland, consumers purchased fireworks worth approximately 129 million euros in 2025, surpassing the previous year's record, reflecting the large volume of use before entering 2026.