A wave of deadly violence swept over several major cities in the Netherlands over New Year’s Eve and Day, stretching the country’s emergency services to breaking point
New Year’s 2026 started with tragedy in the Netherlands, with people killed by fireworks as battles raged on the streets of the country’s major cities – culminating in the destruction of a 19th century church.
Two people, a 17-year-old from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer died after they were hit by fireworks in two accidents, which left three others seriously injured. At the same time, police chiefs condemned a night of “unprecedented” violence directed at police and emergency services in the run up to the New Year.
Dramatic pictures have captured erupting sparks and firework explosions tearing through The Hague and Amsterdam, with the scenes eventually spreading to the latter’s Vondelkerk church.
READ MORE: Swiss ski resort fire: Everything you need to know about horror blaze that killed 40READ MORE: New Year’s Day swim 2026 in pictures as hundreds descend into ice-cold waters
The church, which is more than 150 years old, overlooks Amsterdam’s largest park, and stands as a lasting reminder of the New Year’s chaos, which also hit Dutch police top brass. Nine Koiiman, the head of the Dutch Police Union, said she was among officers pelted with fireworks while responding to the chaos while on duty in Amsterdam.
Volleys of fireworks were reportedly exchanged by groups of residents living in several neighbouring streets in The Hague’s Transvaal district.
Wilbert Paulissen, the Chief Commissioner of the East Brabant Regional Police Unit, said nearly every single riot officer on duty on the evening was deployed. He said: “By mid-evening, the Mobile Unit had to intervene in many places. Almost all available riot police officers we have in the Netherlands were on duty.
“A truly maximum deployment that lasted half the night.” In Breda, to the south, petrol bombs were thrown at officers, and in Rotterdam 14 people were treated for eye injuries on the night, including 10 children. Firefighters were also forced to kick their efforts to the highest gear, with 4,300 calls placed overnight during what the Dutch Fire Service said was a “busy, intense” night.
The wave of violence massively strained the country’s health system, with residents receiving an alert just after midnight advising them not to call emergency services unless lives were at risk.
The crimes wrought chaos ahead of a ban on unofficial fireworks due to pass into law this year. And they took place as another disaster unfolded several hundred miles to the south in Switzerland, where partygoers were trapped in a blaze at a ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, the country’s southwest.
Around 40 people died when a fire broke out during a New Year’s party at around 1.30am. A further 115 people were injured, 60 of whom where transferred to the Sion hospital, with a “significant” but undisclosed number in critical condition.
As officials started investigating the incident – which witnesses said was preceded by waiting staff entering the bar with champagne and celebratory flares – Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared the fire “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced”. Among those expressing their condolences for the nation was King Charles III, who issued a statement with Queen Camilla.
The couple said they were “greatly saddened” to learn of the loss of life, adding in a statement: “It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy.”
