A record amount of fireworks was purchased this year. The Interest Association Pyrotechnics Netherlands (BPN) reports this on Saturday. According to the association, fireworks dealers have a turnover of 110 million euros.
The previous sales record was set at the turn of the year 2019-2020. Then 77 million euros worth of fireworks were bought. The two new years that followed were subject to a national fireworks ban due to the corona pandemic.
A spokesperson for BPN informs ANP news agency that ten percent of the increased turnover is due to the higher price of fireworks due to inflation. “The rest is really because a lot more has been sold. The enthusiasm for fireworks is very high this year.”
Read also: The Dutch flock to Germany, where firecrackers are cheaper than here
Black market
In twelve municipalities in the Netherlands, a fireworks ban will apply this year. In Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Schiedam and Haarlem, among others, it is prohibited to set off fireworks yourself this year.
Fireworks may be sold in those municipalities. According to the spokesperson for BPN, this happened in abundance. “No less was sold in those municipalities than in municipalities without a lighting ban.”
After two years of silence during the corona pandemic, enthusiasm for fireworks is high this year. But no one knows how much was bought on the black market. In October, the police rolled up a supply line of illegal fireworks from Germany. In addition, 350,000 kilos of prohibited fireworks were seized. The police also found chemicals to make fireworks.