Community centre Parknest in Flevopark in Amsterdam Oost has been largely destroyed after a major fire broke out during the night between Thursday and Friday.
Emergency services received the initial report of a fire inside the park building just before midnight, around 23:55.
Multiple fire brigade units were dispatched immediately to the scene in Oost as heavy smoke spread across the surrounding area.
Flames trapped beneath the roof
Shortly after arriving, firefighters established that the fire was burning within a hollow void beneath the roof structure.
Crews were unable to reach the core of the fire effectively from the outside of the small building.
Entering the interior was considered far too dangerous for the emergency teams, prompting the fire department to let the building burn out under controlled supervision.
According to 112nederland.nl, the fire was still active at around 02:00, leaving very little of the premises intact.
It remains unclear how the fire originated inside the roof space, and the cause is still unknown.
Long vacancy before community revival
The small building, located directly next to the playground in Flevopark, originally operated as a pancake house known as het Pannenkoekenhuis.
After being sold in 2010, the property sat unoccupied for years, which caused ongoing irritation among nearby residents.
A group of local neighbours took over the vacant premises in October 2023, reviving the location as a local community centre and cultural incubator.
The site served as a regular gathering space where neighbours met for coffee and social events, with NH Nieuws reporting that a communal dinner had been scheduled to take place at the venue on Friday evening.
