May 13, 2000, a date etched in the memory of every local. The Roombeek neighborhood was the site of the fireworks disaster that rocked the city. A warehouse of S.E. Fireworks caught fire. The warehouse was loaded with 900 kilos of fireworks, stood in the middle of a residential area and caused a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions: 23 dead, about 950 injured and enormous destruction.
![- Uit in Enschede](https://d22ngpx8edtvxq.cloudfront.net/webuploads/_blockImage/867249/Vuurwerk-ramp-S.I.-Fireworks-is-net-de-lucht-ingegaan-13-5-2000.webp)
Destruction
Firework disaster
Enschede was hit by one of the most devastating disasters in its history. The fireworks disaster at S.E Fireworks on Tollenstraat caused a series of explosions that not only took 23 lives, but also injured hundreds of people and destroyed countless homes and businesses. In the aftermath of the disaster, the National Disaster Relief Fund opened Giro Number 777 on May 15 to raise money for the victims. The response was overwhelming: within a short time, as much as 45 million guilders was raised.
![Roombeek Monument Vuurwerkramp Enschede - Uit in Enschede](https://d22ngpx8edtvxq.cloudfront.net/webuploads/_blockImage/69993/Vuurwerkramp-monument-roombeek-in-Enschede.webp)
Monument
The lost house
Lasonderbleek is a special memorial park in Enschede. The old concrete foundation of the fireworks factory is a reminder of the tragic event. In the middle of the grass you will find the artwork "The Lost House" by the Amsterdam artist Balta. This artwork shows a drawing of a house as a child would draw it, recognizable to everyone. Next to the house you see dotted lines that refer to possible remnants of a vanished part. A memorial stone near the monument bears the names of all the victims of the disaster.