Concerns Rise as Netherlands Prepares for First National Fireworks Ban
The Netherlands is โbracing forโ a New Year’s Eve unlike any othre, with a nationwide ban on consumer fireworks taking effect this year. While welcomed by many, โคthe โขban is fueling anxieties about a potential surge โขin illegal fireworks โคimports and the safety of enforcement officers โtasked with upholding the new regulations.
The concernโข stems from the likelihoodโข that individuals, unableโ too legally purchase fireworks domestically, will seek them across borders, where more potent and prohibited varieties remain readily available. This influx โof โขillegal fireworks is prompting heightened worry from Boas (extraordinary investigating officers), who anticipate a correspondingโข increase in perilous situations. Municipalities are preparing โขto โintensifyโค enforcement efforts in theโ days โคleading up toโข New Year’s โขEve.
“we understand people want to celebrate one last time with fireworks, but the โrisk โขon the streets escalates quickly if everyoneโฃ does,” explains Patrick fluyt, representing the ACP trade union for Boas โฃand police.
however, โขa significant issue is the inconsistent level of โprotection provided to these enforcers. Fluyt highlights a “patchwork โof rules” across municipalities, with some providing essential resourcesโ like hearing protection and batons, while others โdo not.โฃ This disparity leaves โBoas vulnerable, particularly given the potential for confrontation.
“Everyโ municipality is the employer of its own enforcers,” Fluyt pointsโ out,โ “so there’s a wide range in what’s โคoffered.” He urgently appeals to municipalities to prioritize theโค well-being โof their Boas, ensuring they are adequately equipped to handle potential hearing damage and โคaggression.The reliance on police backupโ is also a concern,as Boas often face delaysโฃ during the busy New โขYear’s Eve โperiod,potentially leaving them isolated for โup to โfifteen minutes during tense encounters. “That’s scary,” Fluyt states, โ”especially when dealing with individuals who have beenโข drinking and view the Boa as โinterfering with their celebrations.”
Some โขmunicipalities appearโข to โbe adopting โฃa lenient approach, reasoning that this is “one last time”โ to allow fireworks. However, Fluyt stresses that municipalities have a fundamental responsibility to โคprotect โtheir employees. โ the Association of Dutch โMunicipalitiesโ (VNG) acknowledgesโ the need for proper equipment, stating it is indeedโ “self-evident” thatโฃ Boas should โbe equipped for safe task completion, and that municipalities are responsible for this. However, the ACP reports receiving signals that this responsibilityโข is not universally being met. the VNG maintains it has not received similar reports, but emphasizes that municipalities are obligated to conduct risk analyses for employee โคsafety, particularly during eventsโ like โNew Year’s Eve.
Despite anticipating a potential reduction in overallโค nuisance due toโ the ban, Fluyt warns that heavy fireworks will not disappearโข entirely, as they are already โขbeing smuggled in from abroad. “Let’s not be โขnaive: even after the โคban, a โขrisk will remain.โค that is โwhy we must equip our enforcers well.”
Publicโ concern regarding safety is also growing. A recent โขRTL Newsโค Panel survey revealsโ that 57% of participants feel unsafe in โthe lead-up toโข New Year’s Eve – anโ increaseโ from 50% last year. This anxiety contributesโ to the continued support for the fireworks ban,โฃ with 65% of the panel โคstillโฃ inโ favor.
However, the ban also raises concerns about a potentially subdued New Year’s celebration. Fireworks seller Bart Pronk notes the enjoyment many derive โfrom fireworks,โฃ and warnsโฃ that next year โคcould be “very boring.”โ A survey by his SVNC โfoundation โindicates that many Dutch โคmunicipalities do not plan to organize officialโฃ fireworks displays orโ issue permits โขfor them,potentially leaving the skies dark and the soundscape dominated by illegal fireworks.