Well over a tonne of fireworks have been handed in to officials in the big Dutch cities ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to broadcaster NOS.

In The Hague over 600 kilos of fireworks were collected on the last two days of the campaign, while in Rotterdam, Utrecht and Amsterdam the total haul was just under 600 kilos, NOS said.

Ministers decided last month to ban all but the least powerful fireworks, such as sparklers, during the New Year festivities in an effort to encourage people to stay home.

Many smaller local authorities organised their own collection points as well. In Breda, for example, firework fans handed in almost 250 kilos to officials.