Overview
- Flames erupted shortly after midnight with first calls around 12:45 a.m., the 50‑metre spire collapsed, the roof was gutted, and crews brought the blaze under control by morning.
- Police and fire authorities say the cause is under investigation, with media and witnesses noting fireworks near the time of the blaze but no official confirmation of a link.
- Nearby flats were evacuated, a rare NL‑Alert urged the public to keep emergency lines free, and roughly 90 households lost power as firefighters protected surrounding buildings.
- No injuries were reported; outer walls are expected to stand, though emergency officials said the monument is no longer salvageable due to extensive structural damage.
- Across the Netherlands, police reported an “unprecedented” night of violence with about 250 arrests, petrol bombs thrown at officers in Breda, and two fireworks‑related deaths in Aalsmeer and Nijmegen.