We can bang again: this is how North Holland municipalities deal with fireworks

This year can be blown again for the first time. Municipalities themselves decide which measures will be taken in addition to national policy. Since 2020, the fireworks policy has been tightened and some types of fireworks may no longer be sold and set off.

Eight municipalities without fireworks restrictions

Eight of the municipalities surveyed have not taken any restrictive measures on the setting off of fireworks. In Dijk en Waard, Koggenland, Stede Broec, Drechterland, Opmeer, Medemblik, Hoorn and on Texel, fireworks enthusiasts can blast the entire municipality.

At least 13 municipalities have set up firework-free zones. These are: Bergen, Uitgeest, Castricum, Heiloo, Den Helder, Amstelveen, Hollands Kroon, Enkhuizen, Zaanstad, Hilversum, Gooise Meren, Huizen and Alkmaar. The municipality of Schagen is still investigating the introduction of fireworks-free zones. Amsterdam, Heemstede, Haarlem and Bloemendaal have a general ban on fireworks.

For the past two years, a national fireworks ban has been in place due to corona. This was to prevent gatherings and not to further burden hospitals with fireworks victims.

Amsterdam chooses to continue that line, omvate the hiofdcity annual much nuisance experiences of including aggression with fireworks, fires and accidents. That is also Haarlem’s motive for introducing a total ban. “It causes too much nuisance to people, animals and nature,” explains the municipality.

The vast majority of municipalities that do not take extra measures say that they cannot enforce them anyway. People still fire arrows and firecrackers, they say. “And those who set off fireworks are already gone before any action is taken,” explains the municipality of Texel.

In Hoorn, fireworks fans are allowed to explode everywhere. This was determined after the municipality held a poll among residents in 2017. “It showed that a large proportion would not take fireworks-free zones into account”, the municipality says.

The municipality of Dijk en Waard conforms to the national rules that have been in force since 2020: ‘The setting off of many types of fireworks is already prohibited’. In addition, the municipality points out that lighting is only allowed between December 31, 6 p.m. and January 1, 2 a.m.

“There are also many people who adhere to the rules and enjoy the tradition of setting off fireworks during New Year’s Eve,” says the municipality. “There is therefore room to keep this tradition alive at the times allowed.”

Fireworks-free zones

Including Den Helder, Bergen and Heiloo set firework-free zones to guarantee safety while taking certain target groups into account. In several cities and villages, fireworks are not allowed in schoolyards and in the vicinity of healthcare institutions. It is also not allowed near animal shelters and petting zoos.

Also in Zaanstad it is not allowed to light near the Zaanse Schans. In addition, there are several municipalities that give residents the opportunity to apply for fireworks-free zones themselves. This is possible in Wormerland, Gooise Meren and Hilversum, among others

Several municipalities will come up with exact measures later this month. A number of municipalities also did not respond to our questions about their fireworks policy.