The international firework festival at the seaside resort of Scheveningen will not go ahead in 2019 because of safety regulations.

This year would have been the 40th edition of the free festival, which takes place every August and attracts some 400,000 people.

The enormous popularity of the event means that safety standards have been tightened up by The Hague city council. ‘Despite writing a new safety plan, together with the specialised producers, the board has not been able to reach agreement with the council,’ the organisers said.

‘The organisation cannot meet the increasingly tough safety conditions for a licence and have decided not to hold this year’s event.’