Both Belgian places in the border region and municipalities in Brabant are happy with the upcoming fireworks ban. This is apparent from a tour of Omroep Brabant. Yet some municipalities prefer to see a ban in which other countries also participate. This is especially true for Baarle-Nassau, located next to the Belgian enclave Baarle-Hertog: “Nothing guarantees us that a Dutch fireworks ban causes less nuisance.”
This week it became clear that a majority of the House of Representatives is for a national fireworks ban. The introduction is therefore only a matter of time.
Care providers
Omroep Brabant spoke several Brabant municipalities, they are all happy with the ban. “It really can no longer be like that. During our last New Year there were two fatalities, 1200 wounded, of which 187 with eye injury through fireworks,” said a spokesperson for the municipality of Roosendaal. “Add to that 200 burned -out cars and all kinds of other material damage. If that were to happen on a normal day, we have three days of national mourning.”
Violence against care providers during the New Year is also often mentioned as a problem. “The way in which fireworks yields dangerous situations and is used against care providers can no longer be explained,” said the municipality of Alphen-Chaam. She hopes that care providers will soon be able to do a lot safer they are good at; provide assistance ‘.
Enforcement
But can such a prohibition be maintained? Municipalities see that happening, especially since the rules are now the same throughout the Netherlands. Mayor Paul Depla van Breda: “We had no fireworks ban in Breda, because we are against fragmentation. But a national ban is clear.” He calls it ‘sad that it is necessary’.
It is not yet possible to say how enforcement will go. A spokesperson for the municipality of Alphen-Chaam: “Whether it is immediately sufficient, perpetrators must be caught red-handed, will show the time.” The municipality of Maashorst counts that enforcement ‘will request a major investment in the first years’.
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Other countries
That does not mean that there are also worries. That fireworks remain available in Belgium and Germany, of course, does not help if you want to eliminate fireworks for consumers. Den Bosch has been arguing for a European approach for some time, other municipalities are joining. Bergen op Zoom calls a European ban necessary to see effects.
In Baarle-Nassau this plays even more than elsewhere. A spokesperson: “It is mainly Dutch people from outside our village who cause this nuisance. People are now coming to buy fireworks for months before New Year’s Eve in Baarle-Hertog (Belgium).”
They are not comfortable with it: “Nothing guarantees us that a Dutch fireworks ban causes less nuisance in our enclaved village. Maybe it will even be more. That is why we are in favor of getting a fireworks ban with countries that border on our country.”
‘Now Belgium’
Baarle-Nassau is not only here: De Buren, Baarle-Hertog, are also a European ban. But first they want a sales ban in Belgium: “What apparently the Netherlands can do, must also be possible in Belgium!” said Mayor Loots.