Defenders of Art

“We have the duty to preserve the past, because without memory there is no identity.”

NETHERLANDS
Vondelkerk Church Fire

Vondelkerk – Pierre Cuypers – Fireworks Blaze (2026)

In the early hours of January 1, 2026, shortly after midnight during New Year’s celebrations in Amsterdam, a major fire broke out at the Vondelkerk, a historic church near Vondelpark. The blaze began in the church’s bell tower around 00:50 AM, which collapsed as the fire spread. The roof of the nave also collapsed, along with much of the central structure, leaving most of the Neo-Gothic building destroyed. Only the exterior walls remained standing after emergency services brought the fire under control. The fire was likely caused by fireworks set off illegally by individuals during the celebrations, though no definitive determination has been made.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers – Vincent van Gogh – Soup Protest (2022)

In October 2022, two environmental activists affiliated with the British group Just Stop Oil entered London’s National Gallery and threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1888). The painting itself was protected by glass and was not physically damaged, but the frame suffered harm and the gallery was temporarily closed while security intervened. The activists glued their hands to the wall beneath the work and were arrested shortly afterward. The incident drew global attention and widespread condemnation for targeting an iconic masterpiece housed in a public museum.

Rembrandt Acid Attack

The Night Watch – Rembrandt – Acid Attack (1990)

In 1990, an escaped psychiatric patient sprayed sulfuric acid directly onto Rembrandt’s The Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The chemical damaged the painting’s protective varnish and caused localized discoloration. Museum staff immediately neutralized the acid to prevent further harm, and conservators began a meticulous restoration process that took months.