Fireworks traders bought a lot of fireworks again this year. “18 million kilos, worth about 77 million euros. That’s how much fireworks are currently present in our country”, Marcel Teunissen estimates. He is the chairman of Belangenvereniging Pyrotechniek Nederland (BPN).
To keep
Since this year, there is a ban on fireworks and rockets. This year, a total fireworks ban will be added to relieve worry. The decorative fireworks that are already in our country may not be sold or set off. And now? “It must be kept for a year. Fortunately it is not perishable,” says Teunissen.
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Fireworks ban for next New Year’s Eve
Last month the cabinet announced a ban on the sale, lighting and transport of fireworks. It concerns F2 fireworks such as fountains and ground spinning tops. Category 1 fireworks such as stars and poppy peas are the only ones that may still be lit.
Also carbide shooting, a tradition in the north and east of our country where you make hard bangs with a milk can and a ball, is also allowed in some municipalities.
The fireworks ban is there to relieve worry. It is overloaded by the corona virus. The turn of the year is one of the busiest times for emergency care in hospitals.
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The decorative fireworks, pots and cakes are stored in so-called fireworks storage places. “These are bunkers with safety provisions, inspection certificates and sprinkler systems. The costs to store fireworks here are high.”
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Normally there is some kind of transfer, explains Teunissen. “The fireworks come by boat from China and arrive here in the harbor, from there the fireworks go to the importers, who store the fireworks in those special bunkers. From the storage the fireworks go to the private seller, and finally to the consumer. “
Full fireworks bunkers
But this flow is not there now, because the sellers do not want to buy fireworks with the ban. “The shopkeeper is not waiting for boxes of fireworks that they have to leave all year round.” The consequence? The fireworks bunkers are full.
This is also the case with fireworks importer Jasper Groeneweg. RTL Nieuws visited him in November, when his storage was already full.
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In addition to being unable to sell their purchased goods, traders also have to pay storage costs, Teunissen explains. “It’s not just in a shed somewhere.”
Destruction of the fireworks is also an option, but actually even more expensive. “It costs money to buy the fireworks, and then a seller has to pay a lot of money to have it destroyed. That’s capital destruction.”
Store in Germany
Because the Dutch storage locations are almost full, importers are moving to Germany. “There are more storage options there.” But there are also costs involved: first of all to rent a space, and then also transport to and from the Netherlands. “A huge downer.”
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The fireworks industry is sticking to the fact that this ban only applies this year during the corona crisis. “We assume that the fireworks will be released again next year,” says Teunissen. The decorative fireworks will probably just come back from storage.
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Save fireworks yourself
In large cities, such as Utrecht and Rotterdam, fireworks could be handed in at special points last week, without being fined or having a criminal record. But haven’t you done this, and are you putting it away yourself until the next New Year? Then Teunissen also has some tips on how to keep it properly.
- It sounds pretty logical, but it can’t be said often enough: “Don’t put it where there is a fire nearby.”
- Make sure that not everyone can access it just like that. “So don’t put it in a shed that you share with the neighbors, but put it behind your own door. And don’t put it in places where children can reach, you don’t do that with other items that are dangerous.”
- And perhaps most importantly: put it in a dry place. “When fireworks become damp, the quality deteriorates sharply.”
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