Laser show to be held at the Binnenhof in The Hague this New Year’s Eve

For this year’s New Year’s Eve, a light and laser show will once again take place at the Hofvijver in the center of The Hague. Previously, professional fireworks were used to ring in the new year, but the city now considers them too dangerous near the Binnenhof, the historic complex of government buildings and the Dutch parliament. Last year’s music-accompanied light show drew around 12,000 visitors.

Last year, there was also a laser show instead of fireworks. The historic Binnenhof, dating back several centuries, is currently being renovated. Because of the fire hazard, the final civil servants had to evacuate the Prime Minister’s office tower, known as the Torentje, during the festivities.

The traditional bonfires are likely to return to the beaches of Scheveningen and Duindorp. Permit applications that were still pending are currently under review. The wood stacks may measure up to 10 meters in length, width, and height, and they cannot be ignited in strong winds. The municipality says it has “a positive stance” on the fires, as they help ensure “a festive atmosphere for New Year’s Eve.”

The Hague has designated six neighborhoods as fireworks-free zones, where lighting fireworks during New Year’s Eve is prohibited. This is the third and final trial, which will be reviewed next year. Past New Year celebrations showed that the ban was not always followed, and the municipality had previously warned that it lacked sufficient staff to enforce the restrictions.

Besides the designated neighborhoods, The Hague has 53 other fireworks-free zones, including areas around hospitals, petting farms, riding schools, and large parks and natural reserves. While police and enforcement officers do patrol these zones, the municipality stresses that “their capacity is limited.”

One of last year’s fireworks-free zones was the Tarwekamp. A few weeks earlier, a block of flats with a shared entrance had collapsed due to an explosive attack, killing six residents.

The city of The Hague will soon consult residents to see if they want the area to remain fireworks-free. “Our first impression is that there is indeed a demand for it,” the municipality said.

This may be the final New Year’s Eve when private citizens can legally use fireworks. In July, a majority in the Dutch Senate approved a nationwide ban on possessing, selling, and setting off fireworks, although the law has not yet come into force. Organized groups will be able to apply for permission to hold fireworks displays, which The Hague described as “a sympathetic idea.”