The fire at the top of the church started shortly before 1 a.m., the city channel reported AT5. All streets around the church are closed off. Outside there are many people watching the fire.
Emergency services are present en masse at the church.
Several homes evacuated
The fire in the tower of the Amsterdam Vondelkerk has created an “enormous shower of sparks” that is moving in an easterly direction, a spokesperson for the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region said. Surrounding homes are being evacuated.
The spokesperson does not yet know how many homes are involved and in which area exactly. In any case, according to him, sparks with “old wood” are blowing towards the city center.
An NL-Alert warns of the large amount of smoke released by the fire. People who suffer from this are advised to close windows and doors.
A bystander filmed the exact moment the tower collapsed: