Slow progress are firework ban expands to 19 towns and cities

This year 19 of the Netherlands’ 342 town and city council areas will have firework bans in operation at New Year, according to research by news agency ANP. In total, 310 councils responded to ANP’s questions or had sufficient information on their website to determine their stance on the New Year firework frenzy. Alkmaar, Utrecht and Zutphen are imposing total bans for the first time this year, joining the likes of Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Bloemendaal, Eindhoven, Haarlem, Rotterdam and Tilburg, ANP said.

Dozens of other places have fireworks-free zones in operation near schools or nursing homes. Despite the introduction of bans, they are widely ignored. Last year, for example, one man was killed in Haarlem in an accident involving fireworks and hundreds of people were injured nationwide.



Campaigners have for years been calling for a nationwide firework ban but there is not enough support in parliament for change. However, many of the more powerful types – including Chinese firecrackers and cobras can no longer be sold legally. Fireworks go on sale in licenced premises in the three days leading up to the New Year festivities.

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