Municipalities regularly refuse fireworks exemptions for New Year's Eve
Many municipalities opt for one clear rule, while others allow controlled fireworks displays.
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For the first New Year's Eve under the national fireworks ban, municipalities are making different choices on local exemptions. Oudewater decided on Monday not to grant any exemptions, while municipalities such as Wassenaar, Aalsmeer and Pekela are allowing organised displays.
Since 1 August, the Netherlands has had a national ban on possessing and setting off consumer fireworks. Mayors may, under certain conditions, grant exemptions to associations and foundations with demonstrable local ties. These exemptions concern limited F2 fireworks during the New Year celebrations; small F1 fireworks, such as sparklers and snap pops, are not covered by the ban.
Oudewater announced on Monday that it would grant no exemptions for New Year's Eve 2026–2027. According to the municipality, safety and enforceability are not sufficiently guaranteed. The municipality also fears that exceptions would make it less clear to residents, supervisors and the police which fireworks are and are not permitted.
Groningen, Assen and Venray have also opted for a complete local refusal. Groningen writes that the conditions are difficult to monitor during the New Year celebrations and that there are not enough supervisors available. The municipality therefore wants to apply one clear rule: consumer fireworks are not permitted, apart from the permitted F1 category.
Other municipalities are making use of the legal leeway. Wassenaar allows exemptions for local associations and foundations, including for a maximum of 200 kilograms of F2 display fireworks at a site that is readily accessible to the emergency services. Aalsmeer has designated two locations and will make a maximum of two exemptions available. Pekela has room for three organised fireworks displays.
The law gives mayors discretion, but places much of the responsibility for monitoring compliance with the conditions on municipalities. In addition, special enforcement officers have had extra powers to enforce the new fireworks rules since September. The practical implementation will become clear during this first New Year's Eve; among other things, municipalities must assess locations, safety distances, storage and accessibility for the emergency services.
The national government has drawn up an enforcement plan and guidance for municipalities. After the New Year celebrations, it will become clear how many applications were submitted, how many exemptions were granted and how much capacity the checks actually required. The current decisions mainly show that municipalities are dealing differently with the tension between local traditions, safety and a national ban.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The national ban takes effect on 1 August 2026.
- Mayors may grant local exemptions under certain conditions.
- Several municipalities refuse exemptions; others designate locations for controlled displays.
- Municipalities are responsible for monitoring compliance with the conditions of granted exemptions.
Left
Arguments A national ban must protect health, emergency workers, animals and the living environment. Local exceptions can undermine the standard and, in this view, make oversight unnecessarily complicated.
Values Equal rules, public safety and protection of vulnerable groups.
Consequences More refusals provide clarity, but may exclude local associations and traditions.
Centre
Arguments Municipalities should assess for each location whether a controlled display can be carried out safely. The institutional solution is a limited number of clear exceptions, with an evaluation after the first New Year's Eve.
Values Practical feasibility, proportionality and local tailoring.
Consequences This can preserve traditions, but requires additional oversight and may produce regional differences.
Right
Arguments A general ban should not go further than necessary. If residents and associations want to hold organised fireworks safely, municipalities should make room for this rather than banning traditions altogether.
Values Freedom, personal responsibility and space for local communities.
Consequences More exemptions could increase support, but require sufficient enforcement capacity and clear liability.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The decisions and legal frameworks described can be found in municipal and government sources. The text avoids asserting an unproven national majority and makes clear that the practical impact still needs to be evaluated.
- confirmed A national ban on consumer fireworks has been in force since 1 August 2026. — The Dutch government describes the ban's entry into force. source
- confirmed Mayors may, under certain conditions, grant exemptions to locally connected associations and foundations. — This is stated in the explanation of the Safe New Year's Eve Act. source
- confirmed Oudewater is granting no fireworks exemptions for New Year's Eve 2026–2027. — RTV Midden Holland describes the municipality's decision. source
- confirmed Groningen is refusing exemptions partly because of oversight and enforcement concerns. — Municipal information cites limited oversight capacity and a lack of clarity as reasons. source
- confirmed Wassenaar permits a maximum of 200 kilograms of F2 display fireworks under certain conditions. — This is stated in the municipal notice on the exemption scheme. source
Editor's note
It is certain that several municipalities are granting no exemptions, while others are allowing limited displays. No nationwide, independent overview establishing the exact share of refusals was found.Sources
- Landelijk vuurwerkverbod voor consumenten dit jaar van kracht — Rijksoverheid
- Oudewater geeft geen vuurwerkontheffingen — RTV Midden Holland
- Oud en nieuw — Gemeente Groningen
- Gemeente Wassenaar maakt vuurwerkontheffingen mogelijk tijdens jaarwisseling 2026-2027 — Gemeente Wassenaar
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „vuurwerk jaarwisseling”
- NU.nl — „vuurwerk jaarwisseling”
- De Telegraaf — „vuurwerk jaarwisseling”