Although the ban on cutting was massively ignored, the municipality can look back on a ‘manageable’ New Year’s Eve. It was remarkably quiet in the Northwest Hospital with four fireworks victims in the emergency department. Last year there were twelve, of which one was serious, and in the two previous years there were seven fireworks victims.
Spokesperson Rinske de Wit-Brandsma cannot say whether the decrease is due to the ban. “Last year was a busy New Year’s Eve, but we have also had years when it was even calmer.”
Units sent into the Overdie district
There were no major incidents this New Year’s Eve, but the police did report a few disturbances. For example, it was ‘remarkably restless’ in the Vroonermeer district at the beginning of the evening. And in Overdie, units in civilian clothes were sent into the neighborhood, because things were getting out of hand there. Ultimately, the situation could be calmed with the help of neighborhood fathers, the municipality explains.
A total of 16 fines have been issued in Alkmaar for lighting fireworks. Some destruction and fires have been reported here and there, but not noticeably more than at other New Years.
According to the municipality, the indoor football tournaments in the neighborhood, organized to keep young people off the streets, were a great success. Several community centers also opened their living rooms to young people again. It was especially busy at No Limit in the Mare.
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