A verdict has been handed down in the Netherlands regarding the fire in the center of Arnhem

In the Netherlands, a man has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing a major fire in the historic center of Arnhem. In addition to his prison sentence, he must also pay more than 200,000 euros in compensation for the damage caused.

This was reported by NOS.

A Dutch court announced its ruling in the case regarding the March 2025 fire in Arnhem, which destroyed about a dozen wooden houses in the historic center and, miraculously, did not result in any deaths or injuries.

58-year-old Kurt H. was sentenced to four years in prison, ordered to pay over 200,000 euros in compensation for the damages caused, and banned from entering the city for five years. The other two suspects were ultimately acquitted.

Based on the case materials, the court found it proven that the man caused the fire in the trash container, from which the flames spread to the adjacent building. One of the other two suspects testified that he had been walking around the containers with a lighter and set one of them on fire. Evidence of intent was provided by a surveillance camera recording in which the man was heard saying, “Let’s set that thing on fire.”

In the case of 42-year-old Ricky and 31-year-old Mark, no evidence was found that they were personally involved in starting the fire. Prosecutors requested their acquittal.

For Kurt, prosecutors initially sought a 10-year prison sentence. The court did not agree with such a harsh sentence, given the lack of evidence of malicious intent directed against anyone.

“It was an impulsive, antisocial act that spiraled out of his control,” the judge noted. At the same time, he emphasized that even if the man did not realize the scale of the consequences of his actions, he could not have failed to understand the potential risks.

Following the fire, the Arnhem city government tightened safety regulations. In particular, residents and commercial property owners were prohibited from stacking discarded cardboard against walls. Additional fire safety inspections are being conducted in many buildings.