Court overturns Hilversum center fireworks ban

The court in Utrecht ruled that fireworks may be fired in the center of Hilversum this year. According to the court, the municipality made a procedural error when setting up the fireworks ban. The mayor and alderman decided this year to ban fireworks in the center of Hilversum. Some traders on the edge of the firework-free zone went to court, they feared that the ban would lower their turnover. The court ruled that the municipality can not decide on a ban because it is a matter of public order. According to the law, public order is the sole responsibility of the mayor - only he can set the ban. Mayor Pieter Broertjes of Hilversum is disappointed by the ruling. According to him it is no longer possible to fix the error. The council would have to be called together and a new General Local Regulation prepared. "And I do not see it happening three days before Christmas." Broertjes points out that he used a model regulation of the Association of Dutch Municipalities when preparing the fireworks ban. According to him, many municipalities have set up a fireworks ban on that basis. The court's ruling could have serious implication for the ability of other municipalities to limit the use of fireworks.