Some 250 arrests during New Year’s in the Netherlands; 1,650 calls to 112 in Rotterdam

Police made 250 arrests during what they described as a “hectic” New Year’s Eve, with violence targeting emergency workers in multiple areas. Violence targeted emergency workers in multiple areas, resulting in injuries to officers. In Breda, police faced attacks with Molotov cocktails and paving stones. After last year’s New Year’s Eve, the police reported having arrested “at least 200” people.

Deputy Chief Wilbert Paulissen noted that, unlike previous years, the unrest began unusually early. “Nearly every Mobile Unit officer available in the Netherlands was deployed, with maximum effort continuing through half the night.” In several cities, water cannons were brought into action. The experimental tear gas that can be added to the water was not deployed, but police did use the new, larger pepper spray canisters.

Two people either died or sustained serious injuries from fireworks during New Year’s Eve. Police said the effect of heavy fireworks was “devastating in certain areas.” Other incidents also resulted in deaths. “Our colleagues have seen and experienced some truly horrific situations,” Paulissen added.

Justice Minister Foort van Oosten called the attacks on emergency personnel “incomprehensible and unacceptable.” “They put aside their own celebrations and leave home to protect our safety. That deserves respect,” he wrote on X.

“The night highlighted the dangers of fireworks and violence. There were fatalities and injuries, and fires broke out in multiple places. Police, firefighters, and other emergency workers across the country faced deliberate and targeted aggression,” the minister said.

The 112 emergency line became overloaded shortly after midnight due to the high number of calls, mostly about fires, according to the police. Notable incidents included the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam burning down, a sports hall in Bedum, Groningen catching fire, and a mattress store ablaze in Hillegom. After an NL-Alert urged the public to call only in life-threatening situations, the call volume eased.

Firefighters were called into action nearly 4,300 times during the celebrations, over 4 percent more than last year and more than 16 percent higher than the year before. Brandweer Nederland called it a “busy and intense New Year’s Eve.”

Most incidents involved burning cars, containers, and heaps of waste. In multiple locations, firefighters also faced violent behavior, including people throwing fireworks at them. “This must stop, our crews are there to help, not to be targets of violence,” said Brandweer Nederland chair Jolande Trijselaar, adding that “the concerns we raised beforehand have once again proven justified.”

New Year’s Eve also proved hectic for many safety regions. The Rotterdam-Rijnmond region called it “an insanely busy night for emergency services,” with a record number of reports. Ambulance and fire control centers received a total of 1,671 calls, a rise of over 60 percent. Between midnight and 3 a.m., the region reported an average of seven emergency calls per minute.

The Midden- and West-Brabant safety region called this year’s New Year’s Eve “extremely intense.” Firefighters were called out 440 times in the region, compared to 138 times last year. “For comparison, a normal night out averages just 10 to 15 call-outs,” the region noted. Most of the incidents involved fires in containers, scooters, or cars.

According to the safety region, violence against emergency personnel has also “increased extremely.” In Tilburg, Breda, Roosendaal, and Bergen op Zoom, the police and Mobile Unit had to intervene, and arrests were made.