No major disturbances, but mayors are calling for a ban on fireworks

At the turn of last year, according to police massive riots from. Despite this, today doctors and mayors are calling for a nationwide ban on fireworks.

Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam has “another urgent appeal” to the cabinet to introduce a nationwide ban on fireworks after the end of the year. Despite the fact that such a ban was in force in the capital yesterday, last New Year’s Eve was still restless, according to her.

In an Instagram post, Halsema speaks of an “unsustainable situation” because the rules have not been coordinated at a national level. For example, the ban was in force in twelve municipalities, while lighting was allowed in other places. According to Halsema, it is also a problem that it is allowed to buy fireworks, but not set them off.

Nijmegen mayor Bruls is also calling for a nationwide ban. That rule was already in force yesterday in his municipality, but Bruls, who is also president of the Security Council, speaks of a “game that cannot be won” if other municipalities apply different rules.

The police unions NPB and ANPV are also betting on the toilet. According to the presidents of the unions, the ban that was in force in some localities has just been respected. As there is no national policy, enforcement is very difficult, according to them.

NPB chairman Jan Struijs questions the policy. “How credible are we as a rule of law if we say that twelve municipalities have a ban on fireworks and not another three hundred? We need a clear policy, so this ban must apply to all municipalities. This year was too little clear .”

Fireworks were launched at police officers in several places yesterday. In the region of The Hague, for example, agents have been targeted. Twelve of them were injured. “I’m angry about this,” says police chief Henk van Essen. “We as a society need to think of better ways to celebrate the New Year.”

Minister Yesilgöz (Justice and Security) expressed his disgust on Twitter at the harassment of the emergency services. “The ME had to intervene in some places to let aid workers do their job. Several officers were injured,” he writes. However, according to her, there was no “excessive disturbance”.

Yesilgöz also responded to racist messages that lasted minutes to midnight they were screened on the Erasmus bridge. He spoke online of a “disgusting incident” and reiterated that the police are investigating. “Racist slogans are abominable and have no place in our country,” the minister said.

In the Rotterdam Eye Hospital, the situation was comparable to the years before the corona, says a spokesman. By 5.30pm, 24 people had presented to the specialist hospital with injuries. Seven of them required surgery, which is significantly more than in the previous two years. The youngest victim is 7 years old.

Ophthalmologist Tjeerd de Faber already spoke this morning of an “old-fashioned horror night”. According to him, most of the victims were hit by decorative fireworks. The wind in particular played a role in this. “We have returned to the starting point. It is a pity that this must be the price to celebrate the new year again”, replies De Faber to the ANP news agency.

De Faber has been fighting for a total ban on fireworks for years: