Church fire in Amsterdam, steeple collapses
It is the Vondelkerk church, dating back to the 19th century. The entire building could collapse
The bell tower of the Vondelkerk church in Amsterdam, which was enveloped in flames, collapsed completely this morning due to a fire, which started after midnight. This was reported by the Dutch media. The Vondelkirche in Amsterdam 'can no longer be saved', announced the Amsterdam-Amstelland Security Region. The entire building is in flames. 'The whole church could collapse,' said a spokesman, reported by the Dutch NPA agency. The church is located right next to the Dutch capital's famous Vondelpark.
The fire brigade is still working to extinguish the fire, writes the NPC. The bell tower and part of the central section of the church have already collapsed. The fire is still not under control. All houses around the church have been evacuated. According to the security authorities, the nearby Vondelpark is currently not in danger. A journalist from the Nl Times saw the fire brigade ringing the bells of the houses immediately surrounding the church; several people then came out of their homes.
The fire had already been declared a major one at one o'clock in the morning, considering the spread of the flames and the population density of the neighbourhood. The Nl Times writes that 'parts of the top of the 154-year-old church had already come off after the fire had continued for an hour'.
The fire in the church tower caused a 'huge shower of sparks' to fly eastwards, said a spokesman for the emergency services of the Amsterdam-Amstelland Region. "This is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church," said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. "Our first concern and priority now is the well-being and homes of the immediate residents."
The Vondelkerk, says the municipality's website, dates back to 1872 and for many years was a busy Catholic church also known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. About a century later, the severely neglected building was threatened with demolition. However, a plan was drawn up to restore and redevelop the church, and in 1980 a foundation was established to make this possible. According to the site, the church had thus become a venue for events and concerts.
