Fireworks-free zones gain popularity as pyrotechnic patience wanes

An increasing number of Dutch municipalities are implementing firework bans over the New Year. This year one in five municipalities have firework-free zones, 30 percent more than last year. Not one municipality is banning fireworks completely. This is according to research done by newspaper AD among 281 municipalities. 56 municipalities are implementing firework free zones, compared to 43 last year. "Slowly but surely the tolerance for fireworks is disappearing", Esther Verhoeff of the Association of Dutch Municipalities said to the newspaper. Virtually all municipalities that implemented firework-free zones last year, are doing so again this year. The newcomers include big cities like Groningen, Amersfoort, Alkmaar and Dordrecht. Hilversum is implementing a ban in the whole city center. Other places are doing so around schools, hospitals and animal shelters. Zeist is implementing a firework-free zone around the refugee center, so as not to scare the inhabitants.