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Over 400 arrests during New Year festivitiesFriday 01 January 2010 Over 400 people were arrested during last night's New Year celebrations and riot police were in action in the four big cities, but there were no major incidents, news agency ANP reports. In Utrecht one person is reported to have been killed after being run over by a car, according to local media reports. The person has not yet been formally identified, but it is thought he or she was attempting to set of fireworks in the road when the incident happened. In Rotterdam 157 people were arrested, but the traditional celebrations on the Erasmus bridge in the city centre featuring Di-Rect and Esmee Denters passed off in an orderly fashion, mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told an early morning news conference. In the Hague, the arrest toll topped 100 and 17 cars were set on fire, well below last year's total of 52. Two police officers were injured when a firework went off in their van. Nevertheless, mayor Jozias van Aartsen described the festivities as 'manageable'. Amsterdam was described as 'relatively peaceful', with some 80 arrests. Up to 45,000 people had crammed in to the city's Museum plein for a free concert by Marco Borsato, soprano Barbara Hannigan and the finalists of the Popstars tv talent show. Security was strict, everyone was searched for glass and fireworks, and there were no incidents, ANP said. Veen The celebrations passed off peacefully in the Brabant village of Veen, where last year riot police were called in to break up a gang of some 100 youths who were setting cars on fire. This year there was a heavy police presence and army airborne surveillance equipment was brought in to keep an eye on troublemakers. In central Netherlands there were some arrests, mostly for vandalism and setting off illegal fireworks. 'There were no major incidents,' a police spokesman told the Telegraaf. Police were also brought in to restore order in Hoek van Holland and Capelle aan den IJssel. © DutchNews.nl
It's nice to see 100s teenagers out and about, active and getting some air. The smoke filled air that last night they helped create. 10 to 15/16 year olds walking along, in gangs of 5, 6 10, or up to 20, with sacks of assorted size fireworks on their backs, certainly far more than 45euros each. It's wonderful Fun to pull one out, every 30 seconds, or so, light it, and toss it at other members of the gang, or any passers-by stupid enough to go out a walk, or toss the larger one under motorcycles, or cars, or trucks, or placing fireworks against plastic bollards (they shrinkingly burn for hours) or break off litter bins from poles, fill them with fireworks, light them, and run like hell before they explode sending burning bits of bin for metres! God help anyone who can't run away! Many teenagers had a wonderful night of Fun. By Gerard | January 1, 2010 11:21 AM It is really sad, but I suddenly do not miss living in the Netherlands that much after reading this. I know this sounds really awful, but maybe a WW3 would make some of us appreciate life AND our fellow man more again. By xen | January 1, 2010 1:14 PM Netherlands most likely rates as one of the worst countries to spend new years in. The dutch have an obsession with fireworks even letting their 3yr old daughters light them. THATS bright! A walk down the street seems like you are in Beirut and rude muslim youngsters throw fireworks at you and then run away laughing. The dutch do not have a 1st world country and cannot control their wayward behaving population. Lets hope they do not win the right to host any sports events such as future football world cups! By Juan | January 1, 2010 7:59 PM This can be fix rather easy. Bring back corporal punishment, 50 or more lashes across your bare back will make these punks think twice before they act like animals again. I witnessed a public lashing in Singapore several years ago. This punky kid got arrested for the destruction of 10 parked cars on a privet parking lot. After his punishment he also had to pay for all the damage he caused. During an interview a few weeks later he said he will never ever do anything like that again. But we need a government with balls and have to put some teeth into the law.If they don't nothing will ever change,and this kind of behavior will go on year after year. By Chris leenders | January 1, 2010 8:57 PM Well the future looks grim enough! I wonder what sort of upbringing these kids have had: should we blame the parents, the media, or just society? By stevie | January 2, 2010 3:50 AM Trully disgusting & sad behaviour, though they state things were manageable !!!. 1 Person looses his life over 400 arrests - The New Year is supposed to be a happy social event for EVERYONE, but the complaints that come around every year regardng FIREWORKS. It's time once & for all that the Goverment start listening & BAN the local sales of these - the amount of illegal fireworks they confiscated this year was astonishing. Time for change - Firework Displays are safe & not illegal - wake up Netherlands, seriously beginning to have my doubts about this country & it's cost's !!. By Wiemer | January 2, 2010 7:19 AM Checking the costs of 10 to 15 minute profession firework displays (& I do love a good fireworks display) and it's about 250,000-400,000 euros, so given the figure of 65Million euros spent on sales to private individuals in Netherlands this year, that could buy approx. 200 x 15minutes of professional display. By Gerard | January 2, 2010 9:16 AM Wassup guys? Didn't get enough sleep last night? Hard to take all this hysteria seriously... By CW | January 2, 2010 9:24 AM @Chris Oh he "said" he would never do it again huh? Well that's ok then... everyone always does what they say they will, especially convicted criminals. Btw I have this bridge to sell you, honest I own it and its going cheap.... By Ben | January 2, 2010 9:46 AM dear chris leenders, By faiz zohri | January 2, 2010 9:52 AM Children can not be blamed. Because all their acts are the outcome of up-bringing, media, "freedom", politician, culture, and values. One can not termed all these wild acts as decency, but well can say that it is the first step towards a dark future. By jerry | January 2, 2010 11:30 AM I thought it was only me being a sourpuss for not liking the firework festivities this country seems to condone. By TomKat | January 2, 2010 12:24 PM Its very tragic that business has hijacked the christmas and religious festivities for a quick profit. Greetings cards, presents, good food, drinks, fire crackers, and more of the same upto the new year, until most are punch drunk to remember the real meaning of the occation. What is next the january sales ofcourse. The shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, cinemas, entertainment shows, banks, public services and tax office have to stay open to make more money for the same time, same place next year. What a wonderful christmas and new year, but wait a minute we need some money this year to do the same and even better next year, so we will work harder and harder just for more of the same, good presents, food, drinks, entertainment and jolly good time. Every body is happy, businesses, banks, public services and tax office, Ooh ho ho ho what a wonderful a christmas, even santa claus can't wait that long, he would prefer to have the same every month because its good for business. By Watchdog | January 2, 2010 1:52 PM This is terrible. I was looking at moving back to the Netherlands this year. I am now having second thoughts. By Tom Dorrian | January 2, 2010 3:47 PM things have sure changed since i was in Holland in 1997 By hg | January 3, 2010 2:02 AM Well lets see....I think a lot more citizens die in car crashes than with fireworks, so we ban cars? Get serious, this is another Amsterdam tradition and people come from around the world to experience New Years Eve in Amsterdam. Don't take that away from us too. Amsterdam was totally packed with tourists all week bringing im sure lots and lots of money. OK, lets ban another tax income and increase the working age till 70 years of age...that will get even with all that evilness on New Years Eve.....and while were at it, get rid of "queens day", I see a lot more trouble and drunkenness on that day than I saw New years Eve. By alanposting | January 3, 2010 10:11 AM
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What the F?? This is worse than Italy! 52 cars set on fire last year?? Gang of 100 youngsters setting car on fire, and the army to control??? What's with setting cars on fire, is it a local thing?
By Mr. Mean | January 1, 2010 11:19 AM