After a busy New Year's Eve, mayors and police unions have called on the Dutch government to introduce a ban on the personal use of fireworks in the Netherl.
Firework ban widely ignored, but police report fewer incidents during New Year festivities
The Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam is usually home to a major fireworks display. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP
Although the firework ban was widely ignored, and dozens of cars were set on fire, police and the emergency services were called out some 30% fewer times than during ‘normal’ New Year celebrations, officials say.
Police will give a statement about the night’s events on Friday afternoon, once they have a better picture of the number of arrests and main incidents.
However, eye expert Tjeerd de Faber from Rotterdam’s specialist eye clinic told the Telegraaf this had been ‘the quietest New Year of my career’. So far just four people have been treated for firework-related injuries at the hospital. ‘That is a real contrast to last year’s horror night when we had 18 eye injuries within two and a half hours.’