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Government gives in to pressure, brings in partial firework ban

February 2, 2020
New Year fireworks in Enschede. Photo: Depositphotos.com
New Year fireworks in Enschede. Photo: Depositphotos.com

There will be enough different sorts of fireworks available for people to continue to enjoy the New Year festivities, acting home affairs minister Stientje van Veldhoven has confirmed, following the government’s decision to bring in a partial ban.

The cabinet agreed on Friday to end the sale of rockets, bangers and firecrackers to the public from this year because these are the cause of most injuries and pose the most danger to emergency service workers.

Prime minister Mark Rutte said earlier this month that such a move was on the cards, after it emerged that two people died and almost 1,300 people were treated for firework-related injuries during this year’s festivities.

The decision to bring in the ban, Van Veldhoven said, is in line with police and safety board recommendations. The Dutch safety board had called for such a ban in 2017.

Details about how the ban will be monitored and enforced will be worked out later, as will the level of fines.

The new rules also allow cities to ban fireworks in specific areas or altogether, as Rotterdam and Amsterdam have indicated they may do.

The Dutch pyrotechnic association said in a reaction that it would respect the ban but pointed out that some sellers had already bought stocks for this year’s celebrations.

They should be compensated for the financial loss, the organisation said.

Rutte said at his weekly press conference on Friday that there would be no compensation for firework sellers because this is one of the risks of doing business.

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