Rotterdam agrees to fund National Fireworks at Erasmus Bridge after all

The National Fireworks show at the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam will likely happen this New Year’s after all. On Thursday, a majority in the Rotterdam city council unexpectedly adopted a last-minute motion to release once-off funding for the event, Rijnmond reported.

Last Friday, it was announced that the fireworks show wouldn’t happen. Funding for the event had been cut out of the municipality’s 2025 budget, and a crowdfunding campaign co-organized by the VVD failed dramatically. €800,000 was needed for the event, but only €28,000 was raised.

But after two days of debate this week, with numerous proposals submitted to save the event, the city council almost unanimously adopted a motion filed at the last minute to release the required amount from a municipal fund that still contains reserves. Combined with the crowdfunded amount, which had increased to €100,000, sufficient funds appear to be available for the event to happen.

The approval of the motion came as a bit of a surprise. Chantal Zeegers, the D66 alderman responsible for the event, previously advised the municipal executive - the office of mayor and aldermen - against previous motions from the opposition parties. In practice, this typically means a motion will fail.

But the last-minute motion got broad support from the coalition parties, with only two votes against it. The only party that voted against the fireworks show was the PvdD. The animal party is against fireworks in any form.

Alderman Zeegers called the National Fireworks show a bit of a sensitive topic. “We’ve noticed in the municipal executive that the community and the council have urged us to find a solution. We’re not immune to that. It’s important for the city and also for the unity within the council: you’re asking us to look into it. That's why we, as the executive board, have decided to embrace the motion.”

Jasper Scholte of the organization behind the National Fireworks told Rijnmond that it was “very sensible” that the city government decided to fund the show after all. “It’s great that the city council has done its best to keep the event going. I’m thrilled about that.”

“We were very surprised that our budget was cut, especially with a complete [consumers’] fireworks ban on the horizon. This is the best thing for Rotterdam, also in terms of nuisance in the rest of the city,” Scholte said. “Besides, fireworks bring people together. All Rotterdammers are on the quay. It’s a nice way to put Rotterdam in the spotlight during the winter months.”