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Amsterdam's Historic Vondelkerk Church Ravaged by Overnight Fire

A devastating overnight fire has nearly destroyed Amsterdam's historic Vondelkerk church. The blaze, which broke out in the tower, forced the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes as winds spread burning debris. Firefighters worked through the night to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. The 1872 neo-Gothic church, designed by the renowned architect Pierre Cuypers, was a repurposed cultural landmark that had been saved from demolition in the 1980s.

Key Points: Amsterdam's Vondelkerk Church Destroyed by Fire

  • Fire broke out in the tower
  • Nearby homes evacuated
  • No injuries reported
  • Historic 1872 neo-Gothic landmark
2 min read

Amsterdam's iconic church destroyed by fire

A fire has nearly destroyed Amsterdam's iconic Vondelkerk. The historic 1872 church, designed by Pierre Cuypers, was a cultural landmark.

"The beautiful building has survived to this day. - Stadsherstel Amsterdam"

The Hague, Jan 1

The iconic Vondelkerk church in the Dutch capital Amsterdam was almost destroyed by a fire early Thursday morning, the Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported.

The flames broke out shortly before 1 am local time (00:00 GMT) in the church tower located in Vondelpark, said the report.

No injuries were reported, it said, adding that dozens of nearby homes were evacuated as winds hurled burning debris into surrounding streets, with evacuated residents temporarily sheltered in a nearby yoga studio.

Firefighters and emergency crews worked through the night to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to adjacent residential buildings, Xinhua news agency reported.

Investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Built in 1872, the Vondelkerk served as a Roman Catholic church until 1977 and has since been used as a venue for events and small businesses.

According to Stadsherstel Amsterdam - the largest organisation in the Netherlands, dedicated to restoring heritage sites, monuments and cultural landmarks - the Vondelkerk dates from 1872 and for many years it was a well-attended church, also known as the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, named after the Catholic parish that worshipped there.

"Around a century later, due to secularization, the badly neglected building was threatened with demolition. However, a plan to restore and repurpose the church was developed, a foundation was established in 1980 to make it possible, and hence the beautiful building has survived to this day," the organisation states.

It mentioned that the neo-Gothic cross-basilica was designed by the famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers and named after the 17th-century poet Joost van den Vondel. Cuypers also designed Central Station, the Rijksmuseum and dozens of churches throughout the Netherlands.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
The architect Pierre Cuypers also designed the Rijksmuseum! That's like losing a piece of art by a master. Glad no one was hurt, but what a blow to Amsterdam's cultural heritage. Fire safety for such old buildings needs to be a global priority.
R
Rohit P
It's sad, but also a reminder of how we treat our own heritage in India. So many historical buildings are neglected until it's too late. We need to learn from how they saved this church once before with a restoration foundation.
S
Sarah B
The image of residents being sheltered in a nearby yoga studio is so... Amsterdam. Practical and calm in a crisis. Kudos to the firefighters for working through the night and saving the surrounding homes.
V
Vikram M
A church from 1872, survived secularization and demolition threats, only to be lost to a fire. Life is unpredictable. Makes you value the old structures in our own cities more. Hope the investigation finds the cause quickly.
K
Karthik V
While the loss is immense, the article mentions it was repurposed for events and small businesses. Perhaps this tragedy, God forbid, could lead to an even more innovative and secure restoration, blending the old with new purpose. Every cloud has a silver lining.

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