Amsterdam: Two people died in the Netherlands due to fireworks accidents during New Year's celebrations, while a separate incident led to the destruction of a historic church in Amsterdam.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Netherlands has a tradition of welcoming the New Year with personal fireworks displays, which annually result in numerous injuries and significant financial damage. This year, around 250 individuals were detained on New Year's Eve, and riot police were deployed in several towns due to scattered instances of violence.
Police issued a statement highlighting the severe impact of heavy fireworks and arson during the celebrations. They noted the intense violence directed at emergency services and police.
The fireworks-related incidents claimed the lives of a 38-year-old man in Aalsmeer, near Amsterdam, and a boy in Nijmegen, located in the eastern part of the country.
In Amsterdam, the neo-Gothic Vondelkerk, a historic church situated near Vondelpark, was engulfed in flames shortly after midnight. The church, built in 1872, suffered extensive damage, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Amsterdam police and fire department.
The New Year's Eve of 2025 is significant as it marks the final year before the implementation of a nationwide ban on the sale of fireworks to consumers. This move has been advocated by emergency room doctors, police, firefighters, and both local and national politicians for several years.