 |
| A night of violencde and destruction |
Fireworks will no longer be allowed on New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. A ban on unofficial fireworks is due to come into force in 2026. According to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, a record €129m (£112m) had been spent on them this year.
On the night of January 1, the historic neo-Gothic Vondelkerk church burned down in Amsterdam, it is believed that the roof caught fire after fireworks landed on it. The building cannot be restored. The neo-Gothic basilica was designed by architect Pierre Cuypers whose works also include the Rijksmuseum. Across the country, riots and attacks on police and firefighters were reported. About 250 people were arrested for arson and illegal use of pyrotechnics. Several people nationwide were killed on New Year’s Eve.
Germany saw a similar situation: in Berlin, more than 400 people were detained during the holiday night due to riots and attacks on police. Traditionally, the streets of the German capital turn into a version of hell on New Year’s Eve. In France, 813 cars were burned overnight. At least two people, including a 12-year-old child, had fingers blown off while setting off fireworks.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 more were seriously injured after a fire broke out during New Year’s celebrations at a bar in Switzerland, authorities said. Initial findings showed the fire that spread among the mostly young crowd of revellers in Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana was likely caused by pyrotechnics setting fire to the ceiling, the local prosecutor said.
