A historic pizzeria founded by Sardinian emigrants destroyed by fire in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland, in the Netherlands.

"Sardegna", the name of the restaurant founded in 1980 by Dante Meloni and Anny Andela , suffered serious damage during a fire that broke out two nights ago in Grote Hoogstraat, a street that is home to several restaurants and cafes, as well as numerous historic buildings.

"A disaster" for the business, now run by Renato Meloni, Dante's son, as explained by the mayor of the Dutch city, Sybrand Buma, who added: "What happened is truly terrible."

The fire broke out inside an abandoned house above the pizzeria and spread rapidly.

epa12645638 Flames engulf a house on Grote Hoogstraat as the top floor and roof burn, and the fire spreads to adjacent buildings, according to the Friesland Safety Region in the historic city center of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, 13 January 2026. EPA/Anton Kappers
epa12645638 Flames engulf a house on Grote Hoogstraat as the top floor and roof burn, and the fire spreads to adjacent buildings, according to the Friesland Safety Region in the historic city center of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, 13 January 2026. EPA/Anton Kappers
(EPA/Anton Kappers)

After the alarm was raised, firefighters responded to the scene, evacuating dozens of residents from adjacent buildings and then extinguishing the flames. No one was injured, firefighters reported.

After putting out the terrifying blaze, emergency teams and local law enforcement officials began investigations to try to understand what caused the fire.

(Unioneonline/lf)

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