New Year's Day will be the busiest of the year for food couriers with 40% rise in orders

The upcoming New Year's Day holiday will likely remain the busiest day of the year for food couriers and carry-out restaurants in the Netherlands, said Thuisbezorgd.nl. The meal delivery service expects the volume of orders to be more than 40 percent higher than an average busy Saturday, a spokesperson for the company said without providing specific projections.

Pizzas and different snacks are ordered most often on January 1, she said. The Dutch minced veal treat, frikandel, is the favorite choice, she continued.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are tricky dates for those working on the streets. Delivery staff receive training to learn how to deal with fireworks, and how to safely navigate the streets crowded with partygoers.

"We also actively communicate with our delivery staff and if the situation requires it, we take measures to guarantee their safety," said the spokesperson for parent company Just Eat Takeaway.

It is always a challenge to find enough delivery people for the holidays, she said. The company now offers extra holiday pay to get as many people out on the streets as possible.

Those working also have a chance to win various prizes. Those taking part on New Year's Day have a chance to take home a laptop, a PlayStation 5, and vouchers they can use to order food on their days off.