Parliament majority want fireworks ban to be implemented after the next New Year's Eve

A majority of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, want the national fireworks ban to be implemented after the next New Year’s Eve. This request was made in a motion from JA21 and BoerBurgerBeweging. The parties fear that business owners who have already bought fireworks will be hit hard if the ban begins this year. The law that made the fireworks ban certain was passed as expected.

During the continuation of the debate on the ban, State Secretary of Environment Chris Jansen stated last week that it would not be possible to introduce this fireworks ban before the next New Year's Eve.

He said that at least 18 months is needed to develop the law. ChristenUnie leader Mirjam Bikker was not convinced by this and called on the State Secretary to accelerate the process. Parties like GroenLinks-PvdA, PvdD, and ChristenUnie fear chaotic events if fireworks are allowed one more time.

The request of CU and CDA to have the law developed as quickly as possible has also been supported by a parliament majority. The parties want no delays to the ban. The issue regarding implement, for example, concerns the elaboration of the ChristenUnie's plan to allow village and neighbourhood associations to set off fireworks.

VVD and SP voted for the request of haste and also for the request to implement the ban from 2026, at the earliest. This is how it is possible that both motions, although they give different signals, are supported by a parliament majority.

The vote for the fireworks ban was preceded by a long political discussion. The initiators GroenLinks (now GroenLinks-PvdA) and ChristenUnie made their proposal in 2020 and have paused the debate for years to take the time to convince the opposing parties.

Last week, the VVD and CDA joined the NSC in supporting the motion. The ban is a sensitive subject within the coalition as BBB and PVV are against the ban.

The next step is for the Eerste Kamer, the Dutch Senate to vote on the motion. There too, the proponents have a majority.

The enforcement officers’ union BOA Bond is disappointed by the decision to implement the fireworks ban next year. The union’s chairman, Ruud Kuin, wanted the ban to be applied this year. “Now we will have another year of trouble,” he feared. “This is all not very sensible.”

Kuin said that he understands that the ban is a complicated political issue but he thinks that priorities need to be made. “I understand that there needs to be an enforcement plan and that things need to be arranged, but I don't think it needs to take that long. Where there's a will, there's a way."

He is happy that the decision to ban fireworks was confirmed. “It is good that it is going to happen, but we think it should happen as quickly as possible.”