News of: Monday, December 30 2013,
The Consulate General of the United States has issued a security warning for US citizens about firework in the Netherlands at New Year's Eve.
The message says i.a.: 'The Netherlands is known for its extensive use of fireworks in celebrating New Year’s Eve. Officially, fireworks can be lit between 1000 on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, to 0200 on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. The legal sale of fireworks (for those aged 16 years and older) starts on the morning of Friday, December 27, 2013. For those unfamiliar with this celebration, it can be quite distressing for young children and pets.'
This information is correct, and outside the mentioned hours there is already lighting of firework going on.
This year the Dutch police has reported an increase in illegal, heavy firework. In some cases the Explosives Removal Department had to take action and vacate houses, to remove firework from some homes.
It has also been in the news this week that about 60% of the Dutch poplulation is in favour of a ban on privately owned firework. Some political parties now support the prohibition of firework sales to private individuals. But a prohibition will meet with a lot of resistance, as lighting firework is quite popular, and it has been a tradition for decades.
Firework
