Massive fire destroys pancake restaurant in Ede

A large fire destroyed a pancake restaurant on the Verlengde Arnhemseweg (N224) in Ede during the night from Saturday to Sunday. The fire department received the alarm around 1:15 a.m., and by the time crews arrived, the fire was already well underway, according to a spokesperson for the fire department. The situation was quickly escalated to a major fire.

Footage from the scene showed flames reaching several meters high, engulfing the roof of the restaurant, which was located in a former farmhouse. Firefighter were able to prevent the fire from spreading to an adjacent restaurant, but the pancake restaurant "is almost completely burned down," the spokesperson said.

The fire was brought under control after several hours, but extinguishing operations continued for much of the night. To facilitate water transport, the Verlengde Arnhemseweg was closed in both directions.

There were no people inside the restaurant at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The owner of the property was visibly shaken upon hearing the news, according to a photojournalist at the scene. The owner noted that the building had been destroyed once before in a fire about 12 years ago.

The restaurant is located directly across from the Airborne Monument on the Ginkelse Heide, which commemorates the Allied airborne landings of September 1944.