Environment Minister Pieter van Geel is to start an inquiry into the sharp increase in serious injuries from fireworks, reported during the New Year’s Eve festivities. In total, 960 people were treated for burns – compared with 660 in 2005/06.

Around 10% of those had to be hospitalised. It was the first increase in injuries in six years.
Most people had been hurt because they lit the firework wrongly, rather than because they were using illegal fireworks, the Consumer Safety Council said.
Around 20% of injuries were caused by illegal fireworks; 4% by homemade incendiary devices. This year, several powerful new types of fireworks were licensed for sale in the Netherlands in an effort to cut down on illegal imports.