Few Dutch councils heed call for official New Year firework displays

Just eight Dutch councils have heeded a call by the national safety council to organise communal fireworks shows at New Year, broadcaster NOS said on Monday.

In total, 273 of the 388 local authorities in the Netherlands responded to an NOS request for information about their firework plans. The Stichting Maatschappij en Veiligheid says professional shows, combined with firework free zones, reduce damage to people and property during the celebrations.

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Apeldoorn, Hilversum and Zoetermeer will have council backed firework shows, while Zaltboomel and Ten Boer in Groningen will host local resident initiatives.

While there is little support for organised events, more councils are imposing firework-free zones. One in five say they have established bans on fireworks near nursing homes, shopping centres or petting zoos, while in Wassenaar and several other wealthy villages, fireworks are banned near homes with thatched roofs.

Pressure has been growing in the Netherlands to make New Year celebrations safer. Every year hundreds of people are arrested, dozens are seriously injured and fires cause millions of euros’ worth of damage during the firework frenzy.

The rules were tightened up in 2014 in an effort to cut down on the problems. Fireworks may only be set off between 18.00 hours on December 31 and 02.00 on January 1, rather than from 10.00.