Firework damage to homes, cars put at €11m

The damage caused by fireworks to private property during the New Year celebrations reached an estimated €11m, according to initial figures from the Dutch insurance association VVV.

This is some €2m below early estimates in 2015 and 2014, the VVV said on Monday.

This year there were fewer major fires and cases of vandalism, the association said. However, there was an overall increase in the number of fires, including homes fires in Tilburg, Amsterdam and Veenendaal.

Meanwhile, six people appeared in court on Monday under the super-fast legal process introduced to deal with New Year offenders. Three appeared in The Hague, the others in Utrecht. All six were charged with using violence against the police, including throwing fireworks.

Injuries

In total, 276 people will face legal action following the New Year celebrations, compared with 377 in the previous year. The total number of arrests was also down, RTL said.

Fewer people – 482 – were taken to accident and emergency departments with firework-related injuries. However, 12 people lost an eye, compared with 10 last New Year, according to figures collected by broadcaster Nos.

There was a sharp rise in the number of people hospitalised with alcohol poisoning. In total, 385 people were treated, a rise of 20% on 2015. Of them, 75 were under the age of 18, Nos says.