The Senate approved a total ban on fireworks on Tuesday. This removes the last hurdle for the initiative law of GroenLinks-PvdA and the Party for the Animals.
The approval of the Senate does not mean that the fireworks ban will apply immediately. The House of Representatives decided earlier this year that the fireworks ban may only take effect after the upcoming New Year’s Eve.
The outgoing cabinet had already indicated that it would be complicated to introduce the ban this year. This has to do, for example, with the stocks that have already been built up and the practical implementation of the law.
The target is New Year’s Eve 2026 to 2027, but outgoing State Secretary Thierry Aartsen (Public Transport and Environment) warned in the Senate on Monday that even that timeframe is already tight. For example, he still has to work out the conditions under which associations can organize their own fireworks shows. That was also a wish of the Chamber.
The police, fire brigade and ambulance staff previously told NU.nl that they were happy with the ban. At the same time, they are very concerned because the ban does not take effect immediately. They fear even more incidents during the upcoming New Year’s Eve.
The fireworks ban came after an increasingly louder call from, among others, emergency services, cities and hospitals. Much fireworks were already prohibited, but now decorative fireworks are also being added. Joke and novelty fireworks, such as sparklers and snap pops, remain permitted.
Law gained majority after shift by CDA, VVD and NSC
The initiative law has come a long way. Initiators GL-PvdA and PvdD submitted their bill in 2020 and put it on hold for a while. That time was used to convince opponents of the ban.
Earlier this year, the bill gained a majority in the House of Representatives after a shift by CDA, VVD and ultimately NSC. The ban was a sensitive issue for the former coalition. PVV and BBB are outspoken opponents of it.
The Senate’s approval is not a surprise. The Senate generally focuses on the quality of the laws and therefore often votes with the House of Representatives faction.