For many people, New Year’s Eve involves fireworks. People have the feeling that ringing in the new year is part of it. However, since 2014, a number of Dutch municipalities have had a ban on fireworks for certain areas. No consumer fireworks may be set off in these prohibited areas. The ban on fireworks was introduced to reduce the annual nuisance and casualties caused by fireworks.
Against fireworks
At the beginning of 2013, it was reported that research showed that as many as six in ten Dutch people would be in favor of a fireworks ban. A fireworks ban means that the lighting of consumer fireworks around New Year’s Eve is prohibited. Instead, municipalities should provide a professional fireworks show. The majority of political parties also advocated a fireworks ban. In addition, the Dutch Association for Plastic Surgery (NVPC) and the Ophthalmic Society (NOG) also fought for a ban on the lighting of consumer fireworks around New Year’s Eve.
Fireworks ban 2014
In 2014, a fireworks ban was imposed for the first time in a number of Dutch municipalities for New Year’s Eve 2014-2015. The municipality of Hilversum was the first to indicate that a fireworks ban would apply in the center. The reason for this was heavy fireworks nuisance in the previous years. In addition to Hilversum, the municipalities of Amsterdam, Barendrecht, Brielle, Castricum, Den Helder, Geldermalsen, Goes, Heumen, Maassluis, Oirschot, Oud-Beijerland, Rotterdam, Simpelveld Terschelling, Velsen, Vlaardingen, Vianen and Zeevang also announced that there will be fireworks-free zones in these municipalities. would apply. These fireworks-free zones are mainly areas in and around schools, shopping centers, entertainment centers, hospitals and care homes and places with animals.
Fireworks victims
The reason for the fireworks ban was the large number of fireworks victims that occurred every year around the New Year. These victims were often mainly caused by the incorrect use of fireworks or by illegal fireworks. Some people are left with permanent injuries to their eyes or hands, for example, from fireworks. From 2000 to 2014, there were an average of 850 fireworks casualties every year, some of which were fatalities. To prevent these victims in the future, a fireworks ban was introduced in a number of Dutch municipalities in 2014 for the first time in Dutch history.
Lighting fireworks is punishable
Lighting fireworks outside the permitted times has always been a punishable offense. Just like lighting illegal fireworks, or lighting fireworks incorrectly. This includes making fireworks bombs or dealing with fireworks irresponsibly, such as throwing them at people. Since the fireworks ban in 2014, it has been completely prohibited to let off fireworks in the municipalities where the fireworks ban applies. If you set off fireworks here, you are committing a criminal offense.
Fireworks prohibited on private property
The fireworks ban imposed by some municipalities in certain areas of their municipality does not apply to private areas. So you can safely light fireworks from your own garden or balcony. There has been discussion about this, because what happens if you let off a flare from your balcony and it ends up dangerously on the street? No further ruling has yet been made on this discussion point.