New Year’s Night in the Netherlands: Police Arrests, Car Fires, and Vuurwerk Chaos
The first hours of the 2025 New Year passed with some incident but otherwise peacefully in the Netherlands, with police making arrests and several dozen cars being torched across the country.
Arrests and Incidents
NOS news reports that the police arrested multiple people for acts of violence, hindering emergency services, and other criminal offenses. The exact number of arrests is not yet known, as the police, the Ministry of Justice and Security, and other organizations will release official figures and statements later.
One notable incident occurred in Utrecht, where over twenty burned-out car wrecks were towed to a special collection point before midnight, according to a towing company employee speaking to RTV Utrecht.
Vuurwerk Injuries and Damage
The number of eye injuries caused by fireworks is still unclear, but it has been announced that twelve new patients arrived at Rotterdam’s eye clinic around 2 a.m., and some patients have already undergone surgery.
In the city of Kamperland, Zeeland, a 13-year-old boy was severely injured after igniting a Cobra-6 firework. Police reported that the teenager is in critical condition.
Autobranden and Building Damage
Many cities saw an increase in car fires, with several dozen vehicles being torched nationwide. In Alphen aan den Rijn, a car and a construction site were set ablaze, while in Enschede, a parked car and a building were targeted. In Veen, a police car was set on fire.
Supermarket roofs in Bergen op Zoom and a thatched-roof house in Kimswerd were also severely damaged by fire.
Vuurwerk Verbod
In nineteen municipalities where firework displays were banned, many residents went ahead and set off their own, with many cities seeing fireworks light up the night sky. Cities like Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Utrecht chose not to enforce the ban.
Watch the video above to see fireworks displays in these cities, despite the restrictions.
Video: Fireworks displays in cities despite restrictions
Meanwhile, after the new Year’s Eve fire in Bergen op Zoom, the supermarkets have been jointly working on temporarily restoring trading hours and stabilizing the offer. In Kimswerd, the remains of the burned-out house have been cleared away, and new construction of the damaged building is expected to begin soon.