Afraid of a violent New Year’s Eve
The recent reports about larger fireworks orders have not gone unnoticed by Van Zuijlen. They could, he also fears, indicate extra pressure for hospitals. Yet he remains sober about it. “I think so too, but maybe it only peaks around midnight. We don’t know. We are certainly prepared, but it is not the case that we suddenly deploy twice as many doctors.”
He sees the most serious injuries mainly caused by illegal fireworks – fireworks that are already prohibited. He weakens the argument that a ban would therefore not help or lead to more illegal use with his earlier point. That hysteria. “If we let go of the mystique around popping, I think the pressure will decrease. Maybe it will be just as bad next year, but I expect that the need to pop will slowly fade away.”
An alternative seems clear to him: “If municipalities organize a beautiful spectacle together – then that is also fun, isn’t it?” he concludes. He also enjoys the colorful popping himself. But at an appropriate distance.