Locals hope Vondelkerk can be restored following New Year fire

 

Locals hope Vondelkerk can be restored following New Year fire

January 2, 2026

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/01/locals-hope-vondelkerk-can-be-restored-following-new-year-fire/

 

Fundraising efforts are under way to help rebuild the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam after a major fire during New Year celebrations largely destroyed the landmark building.

 

Donation drives have been launched by residents and supporters, with bank details and online fundraising links circulating on social media and professional networks, the Parool reported on Friday.

 

The money is intended to support restoration of the church, whose tower collapsed and roof was largely lost in the blaze. The distinctive building, close to the Vondelpark, is a well-known local landmark.

 

Experts say rebuilding should be technically possible, although they warn it will be expensive. The government’s cultural heritage agency will now assess to what extent the listed monument’s historic value can be preserved and which elements can be restored.

 

The church has been owned since 1996 by city listed building agency Stadsherstel Amsterdam, which said it is first investigating the extent of the damage before deciding on next steps.

 

The building now has a variety of community uses, and has again been used for church services since 2017.

 

Mayor Femke Halsema described the fire as a major blow for the city. Police are still investigating the cause of the blaze on New Year’s Eve, with fireworks the most likely cause.

 

Residents who had been evacuated were allowed back into their homes on Thursday evening.

 

The Vondelkerk, designed by Pierre Cuypers, was built in 1872 and was used for Catholic worship for nearly a century before closing in 1977.