Setting off fireworks

How does it work?

You may set off fireworks from December 31, 6 p.m. until January 1, 02 a.m. At other times it is forbidden to set off fireworks. Only professional companies are allowed.

You may purchase fireworks on the last 3 working days of the year from an authorized dealer. Every fireworks product must have good Dutch-language usage information.

Do you want to set off fireworks outside the turn of the year? Then you need an application permit. This is intended for the use of professional fireworks.

• If your fireworks company wants to set off fireworks, you need an application permit. In addition, you must notify the municipality or province every time you want to set off fireworks:
  • For less than 200 kilograms of fireworks, report to the municipality.
  • For more than 200 kilograms of fireworks, apply for ignition permission from the province.
• If you want to use professional fireworks, for example at an event.

What to do.

You apply for the application permit at the Reporting and Information Center of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Do you have an application and want to set off fireworks? If you are going to set off a maximum of 200 kilograms of fireworks, you must report this to the municipality. If you are going to set off more, you must report it to the province. You also need to apply for an ignition permit from the province.

To apply for an application permit, you need:

• your valid ID
• possibly details of your company
• data showing that you are making the application for that enterprise
• A valid certificate of professional competence
• information about the type of fireworks you want to set off
• A certificate of good conduct (not older than 6 months)

Do you have an application permit? Every time you want to set off less than 200 kilos of fireworks, you must report it to the municipality. You must then report:

• why you want to set off fireworks
• what size the fireworks are
• what kind of fireworks it is
• where you want to set it off
• when and what time you want to do it
• how much distance there will be between the fireworks and the public

Additional information

Legal fireworks can be identified by the designation "intended for private use. The label must state the following:

• an indication or illustration of the type of fireworks with the expected effects
• the (trade) name and address of the manufacturer, importer or dealer established in the Netherlands
• the manufacturer's part number and year of production
• a good Dutch-language instruction manual
• the minimum age of the person to whom the fireworks may be sold
• the phrase: outdoor use only
• the NEM: the total amount of pyrotechnic substance in the product

Do fireworks not meet all of the above criteria? If so, they are illegal. You may not buy or set off illegal fireworks. Always buy fireworks from a retailer with a valid permit. Then you can be sure that the fireworks are legal. These retailers will have a notice in the window saying, 'Sell fireworks. Smoking and open flames prohibited.'