Fires, police attacked with fireworks in overnight chaos at Amsterdam’s Floradorp

Multiple fires broke out across Floradorp in Amsterdam’s Noord district Saturday evening, and police were targeted with fireworks, following the city’s ban on the annual Floravuur bonfire.

According to a fire department spokesperson, the fires were “large outdoor fires.” Residents reportedly set fire to trash and wood and also ignited underground garbage containers. Firefighters were actively extinguishing the flames, while police maintained a strong presence throughout the neighborhood. The mobile unit was called in around 7:30 p.m. to help manage the situation.

By 11:00 p.m., police said the situation had not improved significantly. Officers from the mobile unit were hit with fireworks, but no injuries have been reported, and no arrests have been made.

The unrest stems from the prohibition of the traditional Floravuur celebration, which for years involved a large bonfire on the Floraveld before New Year’s Eve. In May, Mayor Femke Halsema, together with police and the Public Prosecution Service, canceled the event, citing safety concerns and the frequent occurrence of dangerous incidents.