New Year’s celebration was an ‘old-fashioned’ fireworks frenzy

The Hague police are watching fireworks. Photo: Sem van der Wal ANP

Fireworks bans in cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam were widely ignored at New Year’s celebrations as high winds canceled nationwide organized fireworks displays.

Dozens were taken to hospitals and dozens were arrested, while firefighters were dispatched to deal with blazes large and small.

‘It was an old-fashioned New Year,’ said David Burden, President of the Emergency Physicians Association NVSHA News site Nu.nlHe said the number of people coming to hospital with fireworks and alcohol-related injuries was in line with pre-coronavirus years.

A 23-year-old man from the village of Diessen has died after setting his house on fire. Carbide in milk churnIn Drachten, a child was seriously injured during the setting of fireworks, but his condition has not been made public.

Accident and emergency doctors at the OLVG hospital in Amsterdam treated about 100 people, 60 more than on a typical Saturday night. Ten of them had fireworks-related injuries, while the rest were due to alcohol or drug use, Baden said.

The Rotterdam Eye Specialty Hospital has treated 17 people with eye injuries, one of whom lost an eye.It was Dr. Thielde de Farber. to the RTL, “An Old-Fashioned Night of Horror”. Other hospitals in Rotterdam and The Hague have treated dozens of patients with mixed fireworks and alcohol-related injuries.

arrest

At least 35 people were arrested in Rotterdam early in the morning. According to Nu.nl, consumer fireworks bans were largely ignored, with police and city officials not intervening. Riot police were involved in dismantling a youth gang in the port city’s Cruswijk neighborhood, resulting in the arrest of 14 people.

Dozens were also arrested in Amsterdam. Some of those picked up were throwing fireworks at the police. After the brawl, he was also arrested on Dam Square in the city center.

Hundreds of people were gathered in the center of Amsterdam. Photo: ANP/NieuwsFoto.nl

In Schiedam, the ban was also ignored. Mayor Ko Lammers said there was “a ridiculous amount of fireworks.” Broadcaster NOS“I think there were more than before the corona. [banning fireworks] It takes years. Quitting smoking is not something that happens overnight.

fire

It was a busy night for the fire brigade as well. In Wegel, Brabant, a church that has been converted into a mosque has caught fire.

A primary school in Buitenveldert was hit by an arsonist who set a burning trash can out of a window, and fireworks caused extensive damage to a nursery school north of Amsterdam.

Several cars were set on fire in the Kanareneyland district of Utrecht, as well as car and caravan fires in Ede, Emmen and Kutweikerbroke.

A traditional bonfire in Floradorp, north of Amsterdam, had been canceled due to expected high winds, but the locals decided to go ahead with it anyway. Nu.nl said firefighters and riot police were on standby but did not intervene.