Netherlands: A Fire Devastates an Amsterdam Church During a New Year Marked by Violence

A tumultuous New Year in the Netherlands. A massive fire ravaged a 19th-century church in Amsterdam on Thursday, January 1st. The blaze broke out for unknown reasons in the early hours of the new year at Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction overlooking one of the city's main parks since 1872. The 50-meter tall tower collapsed and the roof suffered severe damage, but authorities announced that the structure is expected to remain intact.