The New Year’s fire burned the 150-year-old Dutch church

New Year celebrations are usually associated with light, joy and hope; But in the Netherlands, for many, the night was associated with devastating firelight and thick smoke. Flames engulfed a historic and iconic church in Amsterdam as people celebrated the start of the new year.

Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk church was unsalvageable, officials said Thursday morning, as firefighters continued to battle a massive blaze that broke out shortly after midnight during New Year’s celebrations. This fire completely engulfed the 154-year-old church and led to the collapse of parts of the tower and roof; This resulted in the forced evacuation of residents and the power cut of about 90 houses in the vicinity of the accident site. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Built in 1872, Fondlekirk Church served as a Roman Catholic church until 1977, after which it was used for events and small business activities.