Lead
On New Year’s Eve into the early hours of 1 January 2026, at least two people died in separate fireworks-related incidents in the Netherlands as police described a wave of violence they called “unprecedented.” A 17-year-old was killed in Nijmegen shortly after midnight and a 38-year-old died in Aalsmeer; authorities issued a rare nationwide mobile alert urging the public not to overload emergency lines. Incidents across multiple cities included attacks on police and firefighters, dozens of injuries and a major church fire in Amsterdam.
Key Takeaways
- At least two fatalities: a 17-year-old in Nijmegen and a 38-year-old in Aalsmeer; both incidents involve fireworks and remain under investigation.
- National disruption: police issued a nationwide mobile alert shortly after midnight asking people to call emergency services only for life‑threatening situations.
- Emergency strain: Rotterdam’s eye hospital treated 14 patients for eye injuries, 10 of them minors, with two requiring surgery.
- Widespread violence: Dutch Police Union head Nine Kooiman reported an “unprecedented amount of violence” against police and emergency crews, and said she was struck by fireworks while on duty.
- Property damage: the Vondelkerk, a 19th‑century Amsterdam church, was gutted by fire; its 50‑metre tower collapsed and the roof was heavily damaged.
- High fireworks sales: ahead of a planned ban on unofficial fireworks, Dutch consumers spent a record €129 million on fireworks, according to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association.
- Regional spillover: chaotic New Year scenes also occurred in Belgium and Germany, with more than 100 arrests in Antwerp and two teenagers killed in Bielefeld by home‑made fireworks.
Background
The Netherlands marked the last New Year before a scheduled ban on unofficial consumer fireworks, prompting unusually large purchases. The Dutch Pyrotechnics Association reported record sales of €129 million for the season, a surge authorities had warned could increase risks to public safety. Local governments had designated some firework‑free zones in cities, but enforcement and compliance appeared inconsistent on the night.
Police and emergency services have in recent years reported heightened pressure around New Year’s celebrations, with fines and local restrictions introduced in some municipalities. This year’s escalation — spanning attacks on crews, petrol‑bomb reports and mass injuries — drew particular attention because of the scope and simultaneous incidents across multiple urban areas. Trade groups, municipal leaders and national police forces are now facing renewed calls to reassess enforcement ahead of the formal ban.
Main Event
Shortly after midnight, the first fatality was reported in Nijmegen: a 17‑year‑old who suffered fatal injuries in an incident linked to fireworks. Police have disclosed only limited details as investigations continue. Hours later in Aalsmeer, south of Amsterdam, a 38‑year‑old was killed in a separate fireworks‑related incident; that case is likewise the subject of an active probe.
Across the country, emergency services were repeatedly targeted. In Breda, officers reported people throwing petrol bombs at police lines. Municipal emergency control centers described unusually high call volumes, prompting the rare decision to send a mobile alert asking the public to reserve emergency calls for immediate life‑threatening situations only.
Medical facilities recorded dozens of injuries. Rotterdam’s eye hospital said it treated 14 people for ocular trauma, including ten minors; two patients underwent surgery for serious eye damage. Fire crews battled a large blaze at the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam in the early hours; the 19th‑century church’s 50‑metre tower collapsed and its roof was severely damaged though officials said the main structure was expected to remain intact.
Analysis & Implications
The scale of violence and injuries raises immediate questions about enforcement and preparedness ahead of the planned ban on unofficial fireworks. High consumer purchases — a record €129 million this season — meant more explosive material in public hands, increasing the risk of accidental injury and deliberate attacks. Municipalities that had designated firework‑free zones appear to have struggled to prevent concentrated outbreaks of violence and disorder.
For police and emergency services, the simultaneous nature of attacks amplified operational strain. Officers and crews faced not only increased call volume but direct targeting with projectiles and explosives, complicating rescue and response priorities. The rare nationwide mobile alert underscores how local resources were overwhelmed and the difficulty of triaging calls during large‑scale public disorder.
Politically, the incidents are likely to intensify debate over the upcoming fireworks ban and enforcement measures. Lawmakers and municipal officials will confront pressure to strengthen penalties, expand preventive policing, or accelerate public education campaigns. Internationally, the spillover of similar chaotic scenes in Belgium and fatal home‑made fireworks incidents in Germany point to a broader regional challenge around consumer fireworks regulation and youth access to dangerous items.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | 2026 New Year | Context/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fatalities (Netherlands) | 2 | 17‑year‑old (Nijmegen); 38‑year‑old (Aalsmeer); investigations ongoing |
| Eye injuries treated (Rotterdam) | 14 patients | 10 minors; 2 required surgery |
| Fireworks spending | €129 million | Record sales reported by Dutch Pyrotechnics Association |
| Notable arrests (Belgium) | >100 in Antwerp; ~70 in Brussels | Authorities reported large numbers of arrests and use of tear gas |
The table summarizes confirmed numerical reporting from municipal and media statements. While sales and treatment totals are reported by trade associations and hospitals, figures for overall injuries, arrests and property damage remain provisional as police compile comprehensive incident logs.
Reactions & Quotes
“An unprecedented amount of violence was directed at police and emergency services across the country tonight,”
Nine Kooiman, head of the Dutch Police Union (union statement)
Kooiman, speaking after working a shift in Amsterdam, said she was struck multiple times by fireworks while on duty. Her remarks were used by union leaders to call for stronger protections and faster policy responses.
“The Vondelkerk suffered severe damage but authorities expect the main structure to remain standing,”
Amsterdam municipal authorities (official statement)
Municipal officials described the church blaze as a major incident requiring extended firefighting operations and an investigation into cause and circumstances.
“Officers in Antwerp and Brussels were repeatedly targeted with fireworks, forcing robust police measures overnight,”
Belgian police (AFP report)
Belgian officials reported large numbers of arrests and use of crowd‑control tactics after minors and others attacked officers and set fires in public spaces.
Unconfirmed
- Exact causes of the two fatal incidents (Nijmegen and Aalsmeer) remain under police investigation and details have not been publicly confirmed.
- The precise origin of the Vondelkerk fire is unconfirmed pending fire‑service and forensic inquiries.
- Comprehensive national totals for injuries, arrests and property damage are still being compiled by authorities and may change as investigations proceed.
Bottom Line
The New Year’s disturbances exposed a volatile mix of high fireworks availability, concentrated urban gatherings and targeted attacks on emergency personnel, producing fatalities, widespread injuries and significant property damage. Emergency services were stretched to the point of issuing a rare nationwide advisory, signaling a severe shortfall between public risk and on‑the‑ground capacity for simultaneous crises.
With a ban on unofficial fireworks scheduled to take effect after this season, expect renewed legislative and operational debates about enforcement, youth access, and how to prevent the convergence of large purchases and urban disorder. Investigations into the deaths and the Amsterdam church fire will shape immediate policy responses and may influence whether authorities adopt stricter local controls or national enforcement measures.
Sources
- Euronews — media report on nationwide incidents and church fire (news).
- AFP — coverage of Belgian and regional New Year disturbances (news agency).
- Dutch Police Union (Politiebond) — union statements on violence against police (official/union).
- Municipality of Amsterdam — official updates on the Vondelkerk fire and local emergency response (official).