The proposal is to ban the use of any fireworks in the Archipelbuurt, Benoordenhout, Bohemen Meer en Bos, Regentessekwartier, Vogelwijk and Zeeheldenkwartier from 31 December at 18.00 hrs. and 1 January at 2.00 hrs. Research conducted by the bureau EMMA shows that most people in these neighbourhood are in favour of a ban on fireworks. In other neighbourhoods in The Hague residents are more divided on the idea of a ban.
The municipality is asking the residents of the 6 neighbourhoods to not light fireworks. The municipality at the same time says that there will not be enough people at the municipality and police to enforce the ban on New Year’s Eve.
The proposal is in response to the adopted resolution by the Partij voor de Dieren and SP: ‘Helft Den Haag Vuurwerkvrij’.
The Municipal Council still needs to decide during its meeting on 27 September whether the 6 firework-free neighbourhoods will be implemented.
If the experiment goes ahead, an evaluation will be carried out after New Year’s.
Firework-free zones The Hague already has 52 firework-free zones around hospitals, children’s farms, stables and vulnerable nature areas. Some 52% of city residents think it would be a good idea for The Hague to get more of these zones.
Residents can also arrange with each other to create a Voluntary Firework-free Neighbourhood. The municipality will provide free signs for these zones.
External researchThe external bureau EMMA conducted research in June 2023 on what residents think about New Year’s in The Hague. 4914 people filled the online questionnaire in. Street interviews were also conducted.
43% of residents are against a ban on fireworks while 52% are in favour of this kind of ban. The study showed that there were big differences among the city neighbourhoods. There is sufficient support in the proposed neighbourhoods. Also young people in The Hague are against a ban while seniors are generally in favour of a ban.
The study showed that the main grievances of residents include noise from fireworks (37%), rubbish on the street (33%), insecurity (23%), fire (19%), damage (15%) and aggression (12%).
BonfiresThe municipality is positive about the bonfires at New Year’s. There are strict conditions, for safety, the environment and the dimensions of the stack of wood. Permit applications have already been submitted for bonfires in Duindorp, Scheveningen, Laak (Paets van Troostwijkstraat) and Escamp (Purmerendstraat).
Fireworks displayThe municipality is investigating locations in The Hague where a fireworks display can take place safely on New Year’s Eve.
More informationBeleidskader Jaarwisseling 2023 – 2024 en Onderzoeksrapport EMMA
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