Fires caused well over €15 million in New Year's property damage
5 years ago

Fires caused well over €15 million in New Year's property damage

NL Times  

Damage to private property caused this past New Year's Eve in the Netherlands is expected to reach roughly 15 million euros, but the estimated value is expected rise higher when the extend of damage to commercial property is included. This year insurers needed the assistance of a nonprofit salvage agency to deal with 55 different fireworks damage claims, an increase of over 50 percent from last year. "We have to take another look at what we actually consider to be safe fireworks, and keep the tackling of illegal fireworks a top priority," said Dutch Association of Insurers general manager Richard Weurding. "Unfortunately, there were a number of major fires during New Year's, for example a company fire in Zoetermeer, a windmill in Bovenkarspel and an old school building in IJsselstein," Weurding said.

Fireworks Damage New Year Illegal Fireworks  fireworks  illegal  weurding  caused  damage  insurers  association  property  million  15  fires  claims

History of this topic

Man, 46, dies from firework injuries, taking death toll to two
3 days, 23 hours ago

Man, 46, dies from firework injuries, taking death toll to two

Dutch News  

A 46-year-old man who was badly injured in an accident involving fireworks on New Year’s Eve has died in hospital, Tiel town council has confirmed to local broadcaster Omroep Gelderland. “A ban would be a good first step.” Prime minister Dick Schoof has already made it clear the government has no plans to introduce legislation to stop the sale of …

Record number of car fires on New Year’s Eve, highest total in Rotterdam
4 days, 8 hours ago

Record number of car fires on New Year’s Eve, highest total in Rotterdam

NL Times  

A record total of 270 car fires raged during New Year’s Eve and early on New Year’s Day, beating the previous record of 249. The recent total beat last year’s figure of 230, and broke the previous record of 249 set five years ago. New Year’s car fires dropped off during the coronavirus pandemic to 221 to kick off 2021, …

Dutch authorities seized more than 107,250 kg of illegal fireworks in 2024, 36% increase
4 days, 8 hours ago

Dutch authorities seized more than 107,250 kg of illegal fireworks in 2024, 36% increase

NL Times  

Investigators in the Netherlands seized a total of 107,281 kilograms of illegal fireworks over the course of 2024, according to a running tally from the Public Prosecution Service. Just on the last two days of the year, authorities reported seizing 4,171 kilograms of illegal fireworks. That brought December’s total to nearly 40,403 kilograms, or about 38 percent of all fireworks …

Calls mount for a national ban on consumer fireworks in NL
4 days, 17 hours ago

Calls mount for a national ban on consumer fireworks in NL

Dutch News  

Amsterdam and Rotterdam mayors, and national police chief Janny Knol have all called for a national ban on fireworks following a number of serious incidents during the New Year festivities in the Netherlands, including the death of a 14-year-old youth. Consumer fireworks are banned in 19 cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht, but the ban was widely ignored, and firework …

Dutch ring in New Year with fireworks, car fires and riot police
4 days, 22 hours ago

Dutch ring in New Year with fireworks, car fires and riot police

Dutch News  

There were a number of minor incidents during the New Year celebrations in the Netherlands and a 14-year-old boy from Rotterdam was killed earlier in the evening, reportedly while trying to relight an illegal cobra firework, officials said on Wednesday morning. Hospitals were also busy dealing with injuries but were surprised by the large number of under-16s being admitted with …

People in the Netherlands break record from 2022 for most money spent on fireworks
6 days, 8 hours ago

People in the Netherlands break record from 2022 for most money spent on fireworks

NL Times  

People in the Netherlands spent around 118 million euros on fireworks this year. This breaks the record of 2022, when fireworks importers and wholesalers had a turnover of approximately 115 million euros, according to the trade association. Groeneveld had already predicted that the total turnover would be higher than in 2023 when around 105 million euros was spent on fireworks. …

Most Netherlands residents have no idea about firework bans in their area
1 week, 1 day ago

Most Netherlands residents have no idea about firework bans in their area

NL Times  

More than half of the residents of areas with firework bans had no idea they were in place, a survey conducted by insurance company Achmea concluded, the AD reported. Around 21 percent of the 1000 people asked admitted that they pay very little attention to the measures and light fireworks anyway. A motion to ban fireworks across the country did …

Firework sales start ahead of Dutch New Year frenzy
1 week, 1 day ago

Firework sales start ahead of Dutch New Year frenzy

Dutch News  

Firework sales for the New Year festivities began officially at midnight on Friday night, one day earlier than normal because they may not be sold on a Sunday. In some 19 local authorities, including the big cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, consumer fireworks have been banned altogether although the ban is largely ignored. In total 1,213 people went or were …

Rotterdam region urges public to not hinder emergency services on New Year’s
1 week, 3 days ago

Rotterdam region urges public to not hinder emergency services on New Year’s

NL Times  

The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region is calling on the public to avoid interfering with emergency services during New Year’s Eve, following incidents of violence against responders in previous years. During last year’s New Year’s Eve in Nieuw-Beijerland, emergency responders were attacked with fireworks after being called to extinguish several fires late in the evening. In Rotterdam, last year’s festivities were marked …

More Dutch teens are losing fingers and hands to fireworks
2 weeks, 2 days ago

More Dutch teens are losing fingers and hands to fireworks

Dutch News  

The number of teenagers who lose a finger or a hand when handling fireworks is growing, plastic surgeons have warned as police clock up 21,000 incidents this year. Over half the youngsters who sustain serious injuries when setting off powerful fireworks, including the illegal Cobra 6, are younger than 18, an analysis of figures from the last five years by …

Slow progress as firework ban expands to 19 towns and cities
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Slow progress as firework ban expands to 19 towns and cities

Dutch News  

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 …

Attacks using firework bombs will "far exceed 1,000 this year"
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Attacks using firework bombs will "far exceed 1,000 this year"

Dutch News  

The number of firework attacks on homes and business premises will probably far exceed 1000 this year, police estimate. The police had always worked on the assumption that most of the attacks could be linked criminal gangs but research has since found that over half are the result of “domestic conflicts between non-criminal citizens, often over relationships,” the report said. …

Police expect over 1,000 explosive attacks this year; No fatalities a "small miracle"
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Police expect over 1,000 explosive attacks this year; No fatalities a "small miracle"

NL Times  

The number of explosive attacks in the Netherlands is increasing alarmingly and the police expect that 2024 will end with well over 1,000 such attacks committed in the year. The police called it “a small miracle” that, except for one person dying when an explosive he was placing went off early this year, there have been no fatalities. “It helps …

Over 35,000 kilograms of illegal fireworks found during police search, two men arrested
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Over 35,000 kilograms of illegal fireworks found during police search, two men arrested

NL Times  

Over 35,000 kilograms of illegal fireworks were found "that were ready for the illegal Dutch market" during a search in the German city of Hüven, the police reported. On Thursday, officers from the fireworks team of the Rotterdam unit found around 1,050 kilograms of illegal fireworks during a search of business premises and a garage box in Herwijnen, Gelderland. During …

Over 400 fireworks storage locations located in residential neighborhoods
9 months, 1 week ago

Over 400 fireworks storage locations located in residential neighborhoods

NL Times  

Nearly half of the Netherlands' fireworks storage locations are in residential neighborhoods. It concerns 405 locations where up to 10,000 kilograms of consumer fireworks are stored among homes spread throughout the Netherlands, EenVandaag reports based on figures from the country’s environmental services. “That is 400 times very dangerous,” Marcel Dokter, a firefighter of the Volunteer Fire Department, told EenVandaag about …

New Year's Fireworks caused at least €8 million in damages in first estimate
11 months, 4 weeks ago

New Year's Fireworks caused at least €8 million in damages in first estimate

NL Times  

Private individuals suffered at least 8 million euros in damages caused by fireworks during the recent New Year's period, the Dutch Association of Insurers said on Tuesday. The initial estimate put together by the association was down 20 percent compared to the first estimate of 10 million euros that was calculated last year. From New Year's Eve 2018 into New …

Fireworks sales unlikely to match last year's record
1 year ago

Fireworks sales unlikely to match last year's record

NL Times  

Dutch people are not expected to purchase as many fireworks this year as last year, when a record was set for the amount of revenue the sales generated. Through Friday, consumers had ordered about as many fireworks online compared to a year earlier, said Leo Groeneveld, the chair of Dutch pyrotechnic association BPN. Last year, people bought 110 million euros …

Potential coalition parties not enthusiastic about banning New Year's fireworks
1 year ago

Potential coalition parties not enthusiastic about banning New Year's fireworks

NL Times  

The PVV, NSC, BBB, and VVD are not enthusiastic about the plea from over 30 municipalities for a national fireworks ban. “The misery is largely due to fireworks that are already illegal,” said Ingrid Michon. “National regulations still won’t make it enforceable,” said BBB parliamentarian Henk Vermeer. Municipalities have the freedom to ban fireworks in certain areas or neighborhoods and, …

Majority of women in NL feel unsafe due to fireworks on New Year’s Eve: survey
1 year ago

Majority of women in NL feel unsafe due to fireworks on New Year’s Eve: survey

NL Times  

More than half of the women in the Netherlands are reluctant to walk alone on the street during New Year's Eve due to fireworks, as reported by an RTL Nieuws survey published Monday. The survey also revealed a majority of people in the Netherlands in favor of a ban on consumer fireworks for New Year’s Eve. It found that 53 …

Sharp increase in house fires in Netherlands; Over 4,000 in first half of 2023
1 year, 5 months ago

Sharp increase in house fires in Netherlands; Over 4,000 in first half of 2023

NL Times  

The number of house fires in the Netherlands increased significantly in the first half of 2023, topping the 4,000 mark for the first time ever. That amounts to a fire in someone’s house almost every hour in the first six months of this year, AD reports based on figures released by the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety. Ruud van Herpen, …

Medical experts expect sharp increase in fireworks injuries this New Year's
2 years ago

Medical experts expect sharp increase in fireworks injuries this New Year's

NL Times  

Medical experts expect a sharp increase in fireworks-related injuries this New Year. The Netherlands banned consumer fireworks over the past two New Year’s because of the coronavirus pandemic. But last year, we only had to treat one blinded eye.” Ophthalmologists and emergency rooms have long advocated for a complete ban on consumer fireworks due to the injuries they cause. Lighting …

Many fireworks sellers closing up shop in the Netherlands
2 years ago

Many fireworks sellers closing up shop in the Netherlands

NL Times  

Many fireworks sellers are shutting down their shops in the Netherlands. The government banning consumer fireworks over New Year’s during the coronavirus pandemic seemed to have been the tipping point for many sellers. After two years of not being allowed to sell fireworks, many sellers seem to have decided to close up shop, according to the newspaper. Consumer fireworks over …

Fireworks, bonfires likely allowed in The Hague this New Year's
2 years, 2 months ago

Fireworks, bonfires likely allowed in The Hague this New Year's

NL Times  

The municipality in The Hague does not intend to ban consumer fireworks this upcoming New Year’s, though the city will create more fireworks-free zones. The Hague is adding another 30 zones this year, including “around riding stables and green areas, such as forests, parks, and Natura 2000 areas.” There will likely be no fireworks show at the Hofvijver. For decades, …

Not enough MPs will back a total New Year firework ban
2 years, 6 months ago

Not enough MPs will back a total New Year firework ban

Dutch News  

There is no majority in parliament for a total ban on consumer fireworks and efforts by GroenLinks and the pro-animal PvdD will fail when voted on next week, it emerged after Wednesday’s debate on the issue. The two parties say the advantages of the New Year festivities – the only time consumers can set off fireworks – no longer outweigh …

Not enough MPs will back a total New Year firework ban
2 years, 6 months ago

Not enough MPs will back a total New Year firework ban

Dutch News  

There is no majority in parliament for a total ban on consumer fireworks and efforts by GroenLinks and the pro-animal PvdD will fail when voted on next week, it emerged after Wednesday’s debate on the issue. The two parties say the advantages of the New Year festivities – the only time consumers can set off fireworks – no longer outweigh …

Belgian border towns busy with firework-mad Dutch, despite the ban
3 years ago

Belgian border towns busy with firework-mad Dutch, despite the ban

Dutch News  

Dutch nationals have been flocking to Belgium to buy fireworks, despite the New Year ban, according to the Telegraaf. A local farmer has opened up his fields as an emergency car park for the Dutch visitors who have not been allowed by law to import fireworks into the Netherlands since December 15. Surely it should be allowed.’ The Dutch government …

Belgian border towns busy with firework-mad Dutch, despite the ban
3 years ago

Belgian border towns busy with firework-mad Dutch, despite the ban

Dutch News  

Dutch nationals have been flocking to Belgium to buy fireworks, despite the New Year ban, according to the Telegraaf. A local farmer has opened up his fields as an emergency car park for the Dutch visitors who have not been allowed by law to import fireworks into the Netherlands since December 15. Surely it should be allowed.’ The Dutch government …

Amsterdam officially bans most fireworks on New Year's Eve
3 years, 2 months ago

Amsterdam officially bans most fireworks on New Year's Eve

NL Times  

No fireworks will be allowed in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve this year. This year the municipality is organizing a New Year's celebration on Museumplein with a fireworks show, a musical program, and a light and laser show. The city is also providing grants for festive New Year’s initiatives organized by the people of Amsterdam themselves. All plans remain dependent …

More house fires for first time in years; Work from home maybe to blame
3 years, 3 months ago

More house fires for first time in years; Work from home maybe to blame

NL Times  

Insurers had more work from damage claims caused by house fires last year. According to the Dutch Association of Insurers, the number of claims for residential fires increased for the first time in years. Last year, the Association processed 66,657 damage claims, compared to 64,879 a year earlier, ending the decline of recent years. Last year, insurers spent a total …

New Year fireworks fine will hit €100, and that means a criminal record
4 years, 1 month ago

New Year fireworks fine will hit €100, and that means a criminal record

Dutch News  

People who set off fireworks during the New Year festivities face a fine of at least €100, and that means an automatic criminal record, justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus said on Friday. The government has decided to ban all fireworks but children’s sparklers during this year’s New Year celebrations, in order to reduce pressure on the emergency services. That is why …

Nearly 25 tons of illegal fireworks confiscated already
4 years, 1 month ago

Nearly 25 tons of illegal fireworks confiscated already

NL Times  

The Dutch police seized a massive 24,700 kilograms of illegal fireworks so far this year, up to and including November 1. It could be that there are more illegal fireworks in the country this year, but it could also be that investigation techniques improved, Anne Dreijer, the National Police's fireworks expert, said to the program. Sometimes we even see illegal …

Ministers set to back New Year firework ban, sources tell NOS
4 years, 1 month ago

Ministers set to back New Year firework ban, sources tell NOS

Dutch News  

Ministers back a complete fireworks ban for the coming New Year celebrations, sources in The Hague have told broadcaster NOS. Ministers are also discussing how to deal with the financial fall-out and do not want to go public with the ban until this has been finalised, NOS said. Dutch consumers spend some €70m on fireworks during the celebrations, buying them …

Rotterdam, Nijmegen still on track to ban New Year fireworks: NOS
4 years, 2 months ago

Rotterdam, Nijmegen still on track to ban New Year fireworks: NOS

Dutch News  

Rotterdam and Nijmegen are among six remaining Dutch towns and cities which have said they plan to make it an offence for members of the public to light fireworks during this year’s New Year celebrations, broadcaster NOS said on Friday afternoon. Earlier it had appeared that 20 local authority areas, including Amsterdam, would ban consumer fireworks this year, but Amsterdam …

Amsterdam scraps plan to ban fireworks this year, citing coronavirus
4 years, 3 months ago

Amsterdam scraps plan to ban fireworks this year, citing coronavirus

Dutch News  

Amsterdam city council has decided not to press ahead with a ban on consumer fireworks during this year’s New Year celebrations because of the coronavirus crisis. City officials say they have taken the decision because it will be ‘complex and intensive’ for wardens to enforce a firework ban alongside social distancing regulations. Injuries Two people died and almost 1,300 people …

Amsterdam postpones New Year's fireworks ban over Covid-19
4 years, 3 months ago

Amsterdam postpones New Year's fireworks ban over Covid-19

NL Times  

The municipality of Amsterdam decided to postpone the implementation of its ban on consumer fireworks for one year. Due to the coronavirus crisis and its accompanying measures, alternative celebrations cannot be organized effectively, mayor Femke Halsema said in a letter to the city council. She also called it "irresponsible" to ask police and enforcement officers to enforce a ban, given …

More violent incidents at New Year, but fewer people are arrested
4 years, 11 months ago

More violent incidents at New Year, but fewer people are arrested

Dutch News  

Dutch police registered over 9,300 incidents of arson, vandalism and attacks on emergency service workers during the New Year festivities, according to official figures published on Friday. During the 2014/15 New Year festivities there were 12,000 incidents and some 640 people were taken into custody. Police chief Erik Akerboom last week renewed his calls for a ban on larger consumer …

More violent incidents at New Year, but fewer people are arrested
4 years, 11 months ago

More violent incidents at New Year, but fewer people are arrested

Dutch News  

Dutch police registered over 9,300 incidents of arson, vandalism and attacks on emergency service workers during the New Year festivities, according to official figures published on Friday. During the 2014/15 New Year festivities there were 12,000 incidents and some 640 people were taken into custody. Police chief Erik Akerboom last week renewed his calls for a ban on larger consumer …

Dutch cabinet now in favor of new fireworks limits and regulations
4 years, 11 months ago

Dutch cabinet now in favor of new fireworks limits and regulations

NL Times  

The governing cabinet in the Netherlands plans to implement new limits on fireworks after this past New Year's period saw thousands of incidents requiring first responders. Earlier today, coalition party ChristenUnie said it wants to only allow local "fireworks clubs", who got permission from their municipality, to light fireworks over New Year's in the future. "It seems wonderful to me …

Fireworks injured 168 people's eyes over New Year's
4 years, 11 months ago

Fireworks injured 168 people's eyes over New Year's

NL Times  

A total of 168 people injured one or both their eyes with fireworks this New Year's, around 30 more than the previous New Year's, according to the Dutch ophthalmic society NOG. 13 people blinded an eye, and five completely lost an eye, NOS reports The number of patients with eye damaged caused by fireworks has been increasing since 2017, according …

Rotterdam the first large city to completely ban consumer fireworks
4 years, 11 months ago

Rotterdam the first large city to completely ban consumer fireworks

NL Times  

Rotterdam will be the first large Dutch city to completely ban consumer fireworks for the coming New Year. After the "umpteenth" incidents and violence this past New Year's, the VVD in Rotterdam decided to support the ban, which means that there is majority support in the city council to prohibit the lighting of consumer fireworks, NOS reports. "As soon as …

Over 4,300 New Year's fire incidents; Cities call attacks on aid workers "Outrageous"
5 years ago

Over 4,300 New Year's fire incidents; Cities call attacks on aid workers "Outrageous"

NL Times  

Firefighters in the Netherlands responded to 4,340 reported incidents between New Year's Eve and the beginning of New Year's Day. He also expressed frustration at how the New Year's festivities requires such a large-scale response from municipal services, adding, "It is unacceptable that in a number of cases there has also been violence and threats against aid workers and representatives …

Fireworks sales on the rise in the Netherlands; Could jump 10% by New Year's
5 years ago

Fireworks sales on the rise in the Netherlands; Could jump 10% by New Year's

NL Times  

The Netherlands is headed towards its second straight year of sales growth in legal fireworks, the Dutch Association of Pyrotechnics told Nu.nl. Online advance sales rose by over five percent even before fireworks legally went on sale, prompting the association to report a more optimistic sales forecast. Shoppers in the Netherlands spent about 70 million euros on fireworks during the …

Almost all NL residents support harsher punishments for New Year's violence against cops, aid workers
5 years, 1 month ago

Almost all NL residents support harsher punishments for New Year's violence against cops, aid workers

NL Times  

95 percent of Netherlands residents are in favor of harsher punishments for violence against police officers and other first responders during New Year's. I&O Research surveyed nearly 2 thousand Netherlands residents aged 18 and over on what they think about New Year's fireworks and violence against police officers in this period. Overall, exactly half of Netherlands residents now support a …

Over 2,700 kilograms of illegal fireworks seized last week
5 years, 1 month ago

Over 2,700 kilograms of illegal fireworks seized last week

NL Times  

Police in the Netherlands made two separate stops that led to a combined discovery of over 2,700 kilograms of illegal fireworks. Four days later, police patrolling the N322 near Deest stopped a delivery van, where officers found 705 kilograms of illegal fireworks. The car was stopped at a checkpoint at about 9:30 a.m. “During the subsequent check, the officers saw …

Not with a ban but a whimper: only most dangerous fireworks to be outlawed
5 years, 5 months ago

Not with a ban but a whimper: only most dangerous fireworks to be outlawed

Dutch News  

The Dutch government is expected to stop the sale of the most dangerous fireworks from next year’s New Year’s Eve but steer clear of a complete ban. The government is expected to announce a ban of fireworks in the most dangerous ‘F3’ category, such as ‘Chinese rolls’ of multiple firecrackers – although the vast majority of fireworks on sale to …

Not with a ban but a whimper: only most dangerous fireworks to be outlawed
5 years, 5 months ago

Not with a ban but a whimper: only most dangerous fireworks to be outlawed

Dutch News  

The Dutch government is expected to stop the sale of the most dangerous fireworks from next year’s New Year’s Eve but steer clear of a complete ban. The government is expected to announce a ban of fireworks in the most dangerous ‘F3’ category, such as ‘Chinese rolls’ of multiple firecrackers – although the vast majority of fireworks on sale to …

Dutch gov't to ban strongest consumer fireworks: report
5 years, 5 months ago

Dutch gov't to ban strongest consumer fireworks: report

NL Times  

On Friday the Dutch government will announce a nationwide ban on the strongest consumer fireworks - fireworks that fall in the so-called third category like strips and rolls of firecrackers, sources in The Hague told broadcaster NOS. National Police chief Erik Akerboom is dissatisfied by this partial ban, calling it disappointing and the measurers insufficient to maintain the New Year's …

Government cover-up alleged in fireworks disaster that killed 23, injured 950
5 years, 6 months ago

Government cover-up alleged in fireworks disaster that killed 23, injured 950

NL Times  

The wrong people were convicted for a massive fireworks explosion in 2000 that leveled part of Enschede, left 23 people dead and 950 injured, De Groene Amsterdammer reports based on an investigation report by former whistleblower Paul van Buitenen. Van Buitenen's report shows that an internal police investigation quickly proved that the detectives were telling the truth, but that this …

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