Fireworks-free zone around mill Ceres: “We are very happy with that”

New Year’s Eve is coming up in a few days, a day that miller Johan doesn’t have very fond memories of. On New Year’s Eve three years ago, the mill caught fire, possibly from a flare. The fire destroyed the striking building of Bovenkarspel. Through the efforts of volunteers and villagers, the mill turns since the end of last year.

Due to the corona pandemic, fireworks have been banned throughout the Netherlands for the past two years. But this year everything is allowed to go up in the air again. Johan has no major concerns about the approaching turn of the year. Because: “It also went well for 350 years.” But it still keeps him busy. “I already said to my wife: ‘shall we sit in the mill that night?’ But she said: ‘then you go alone’.”

Since this year there is a fireworks-free zone around the mill. “We are very happy with that,” says Johan. “You can now approach people on the street.” In addition, since last year the mill has a sprinkler system on the outside. “The reeds are kept wet on the last day of the year. Water is sprayed every fifteen minutes. That is the only prevention we have taken ourselves.”

Johan himself will be at the mill a lot in the coming days. And he goes on to say: “You also hope that people have paid their dues. That they now know that thatched buildings are susceptible to fire.”