Dutch authorities seized more than 107,250 kg of illegal fireworks in 2024, 36% increase

Investigators in the Netherlands seized a total of 107,281 kilograms of illegal fireworks over the course of 2024, according to a running tally from the Public Prosecution Service. The total was much higher than the previous year, when 78,895 kilograms of fireworks were seized. That represents a 36 percent annual increase, the data showed.

Fireworks were legally sold to consumers in the Netherlands on December 28, 30 and 31. Restrictions still apply to the category of fireworks sold, the manner in which they are brought into the country, and approval for the Dutch market.

Just on the last two days of the year, authorities reported seizing 4,171 kilograms of illegal fireworks. That brought December’s total to nearly 40,403 kilograms, or about 38 percent of all fireworks seized this year.

Although 13,125 kilograms were recovered during the week ending December 22, that was actually the second-highest weekly total. Investigators carried out busts during the week ending February 25 which netted a total of 13,677 kilograms of illegal fireworks.

Although firework seizures far surpassed 2023 totals, they were only slightly elevated when compared to recent annual figures. From 2018 through 2023, the average was 105,962 kilograms. Last year’s total brought the average since 2018 up to 106,150 kilograms.

The recent record was set in 2022 when 110,204 kilograms of illegal fireworks were seized in a single year. The data provided by the Public Prosecution Service only includes fireworks from categories which are not allowed to be sold to consumers. It does not include consumer-grade fireworks which failed to meet safety standards and were thus confiscated.

Further, consumer-grade fireworks which were seized as part of a temporary national fireworks band during the coronavirus pandemic were not included. The ban was put in place to reduce potential fireworks victims when hospitals and their intensive care units were grappling with extremely high levels of Covid-19 patients.