People in the Netherlands break record from 2022 for most money spent on fireworks 

People in the Netherlands spent around 118 million euros on fireworks this year. This was reported by the chairman of Belangenvereniging Pyrotechniek Nederland, the Pyrotechnics Association of the Netherlands. This breaks the record of 2022, when fireworks importers and wholesalers had a turnover of approximately 115 million euros, according to the trade association.

Groeneveld had already predicted that the total turnover would be higher than in 2023 when around 105 million euros was spent on fireworks. This prediction looks like it will come true. “It is a fantastic year for the fireworks sector,” said Groeneveld.

The record in 2022 was set after two years of national fireworks ban due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. “We are now exceeding that. This may be due to the border controls, which led to more Dutch people buying fireworks in their own country,” Groeneveld explained.

But the distribution of sales days may also have contributed. "Saturday was the first day, nothing was sold on Sunday. But then many shops were open for orders, which customers could pick up in the days after."

The ratio of online orders to in-store purchases was evenly divided this year, according to BPN. Online sales were 16 percent higher than last year, an increase that was also noticeable earlier this week. "That made us almost certain that we would have a very good year," said Groeneveld.

People in the Netherlands are allowed to set fireworks off from December 31 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. January 1. There is a fireworks ban in 19 municipalities this New Year’s Eve. Around 100 other municipalities are working with fireworks-free zones where the setting of fireworks is also forbidden.

Despite this, Groeneveld reported after the first day of sales that it was “unimaginably busy" at stores and municipalities where there was a complete ban. “The ban had no impact on the amount of fireworks that were sold. It was still busy, business as usual,” Groeneveld said.

Despite the record turnover for fireworks sellers, not everyone is happy with fireworks. RTL Nieuws reported on Sunday, based on research among 20,000 people, that 60 percent of Dutch people are in favor of a general ban on consumer fireworks. Only 55 percent felt this way when asked about this last year. For example, many women and elderly people indicate that they feel unsafe on the streets around New Year's Eve.