After two years of a national firework ban, the Netherlands is going ‘old-fashioned’ in 2023

After two years of a national firework ban, the Netherlands is going ‘old-fashioned’ in 2023 | New years eve

01 jan 2023 om 00:00

The Netherlands ushered in the new year at 0:00 in the old-fashioned way. After two ‘corona new year’, there was no longer a national ban on fireworks, although some cities had instituted their own ban. Due to the strong wind, many fireworks shows had to be canceled.

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Bangs were heard throughout the country in the last hours of the year, including in areas where fireworks were banned. In addition, the necessary decorative fireworks also went into the air. That was to be expected, since fireworks had been bought for more money than ever before.

In Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Soest, Nijmegen and Schiedam, among others, quite a few fireworks were set off despite a ban. Many people were out and about on Dam Square in Amsterdam and the police made a few arrests. According to a spokesman, many fireworks, including heavy fireworks, were set off.

It was no different in the Blijdorp district of Rotterdam. Loud bangs have been heard there regularly since the end of the afternoon. Also in Schiedam, which borders on Rotterdam, fireworks were set off at the beginning of the evening, with the occasional series of explosions.

Quite a few explosions were also heard in Soest, comparable to previous years. The same applied to Haarlem and Nijmegen, where fireworks had been set off continuously since the afternoon and heavy explosions were occasionally heard. Photos on social media indicate that the necessary flares are also being fired in Apeldoorn.

The police had already indicated that enforcing fireworks bans would not be a priority. The last day of 2022 was otherwise relatively quiet. There were small fires here and there, which were quickly extinguished. Unlike last year, the ME did not have to intervene anywhere.

Dead in Diessen, injured in Meppel, Drachten and The Hague

The turn of the year was not entirely without incident. In the Brabant village of Diessen, a 23-year-old man died after an accident while shooting carbide.

The man suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital in critical condition. There he later died of his injuries.

Someone was seriously injured in a fireworks accident in Meppel, reported Newspaper of the North. According to bystanders, a piece of fireworks exploded in the person’s face. The victim has been admitted to hospital.

In Drachten, Friesland, a young child was seriously injured by a fireworks accident. The child has been taken to hospital, according to police. In The Hague, a boy was injured when fireworks exploded in his face.