What does NRC think | Fireworks was a nice tradition, not the accompanying ‘horror power’

As early as 1955, the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) asks the cabinet to « set a national prohibition against the lighting and selling of fireworks. A uniform regulation is desirable for this, the municipalities find, because increasing nuisance is generally experienced by the lighting of fireworks. »

Seventy years later it seems to be that time. The VVD group in the Lower House, who was struggling for too long between Ondernemersbelangen and the ever-increasing request of the police, fire brigade, doctors and mayors, announced at the end of last week that they were in favor of a decorative fireworks ban. NSC announced this week that it was also agreed with a ban. This means there is sufficient support for an initiative bill from GroenLinks-PvdA and the Party for the Animals.

Of course there is still a debate about the details, including enforcement. As long as fireworks in neighboring countries remain for sale – and sometimes with an explosion power that is not allowed here – there must be border controls around the turn of the year. What is understood by fireworks in ‘association context’ also requires a debate.

And of course municipalities, in keeping with the DNA of their own residents, will have to come up with alternatives. The bonfires on Scheveningen and in Duindorp are a good example of this – now that the builders are adhering to agreed size and the municipality of The Hague maintains. Just like the fireworks show in Rotterdam.

More importantly, if fireworks are no longer free for sale for the consumer, the number of unnecessary victims will hopefully fall. That ophthalmologist Tjeerd de Faber has to talk about a « horror power » for hospitals every year – and for decades – is a goth. The question arose: what parliament makes a country on itself that the new year starts killing, and dozens of people who have to miss fingers and eyes for the rest of their lives?

Add to that the considerable damage to cars, buildings and street furniture, which are blown up ‘for fun’. Rescuers who speak of ‘a war zone’. Add to that the people and animals who no longer dare to go outside on New Year’s Eve, not at all at midnight. While that should be the moment when you want your neighbors lucky.

And yes, decorative fireworks are a nice tradition. It is enjoying a beautiful flower fountain in the air, the golden rain after a bang. That does not have to be missed, a fireworks show can also be enjoyed – safely -. Anyone who has ever experienced a drone show knows that it can also generate ‘OHS and AHS’.

The profit warning is that it may take years for the Netherlands to be firework -free. Therefore, do not let the discussion about compensation for the fireworks industry take too long.

An even greater warning is that although the disturbances were reinforced by fireworks, it is mainly caused by the misplaced idea that you can misbehave one night in the year – under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Five to ten percent of the number of incidents against care providers takes place in this one night, the challenging of the police seems to belong to some, and so far we have not impressed heavier penalties.

A fireworks ban only partially solves this anarchy. But it’s a start when the new year starts without horror power.

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