Dutch police deploy drones near Belgian border to curb illegal fireworks
Dutch police are using drones near the Belgian border to prevent illegal fireworks from entering the Netherlands, VRT NWS reports. This reflects growing concerns about the extent of illegal fireworks use, given that Dutch consumers are only permitted to purchase a limited range of approved products in the days immediately before New Year's Eve.
On Saturday, a surveillance drone was deployed in the Belgian municipality of Essen, close to the Dutch border. The drone monitored activity around a Belgian fireworks retailer, focusing on whether Dutch motorists were purchasing suspicious quantities or types of fireworks.
The aim is to prevent illegal fireworks from ending up on our streets
Cross-border “fireworks tourism”, whereby Dutch buyers travel to Belgium to obtain fireworks that are banned or restricted at home, has long been a recognised issue. “The aim is to prevent illegal fireworks from ending up on our streets,” Dik Advocaat, a spokesperson for the Zeeland–West Brabant police zone, told VRT NWS.
Advocaat explained that the drone can observe the shop from several kilometres away and zoom in when necessary. Licence plates of vehicles deemed suspicious are relayed to police patrols, which then stop drivers for inspection. The operation is coordinated closely with Belgian police. So far, the use of drones has been limited to Essen, although police have not ruled out deploying them at other border locations.
Illegal fireworks remain a serious problem in the Netherlands. This autumn alone, ten children reportedly lost a hand, arm or fingers as a result of accidents involving illegal fireworks. Police say incidents are increasing in several neighbourhoods and that those involved are becoming progressively younger.
In the Netherlands, fireworks may only be purchased during the final three days of the year, and many types - particularly those imported from abroad - are prohibited unless they meet strict legal standards. Offenders face fines running into hundreds of euros, while possession of heavy or illegally manufactured fireworks can result in community service or prison sentences.
Nationwide ban
A nationwide ban on the use of fireworks is set to come into force in the Netherlands next year, though it does not apply to the upcoming New Year’s celebrations. Several municipalities have already introduced local bans.
In Flanders, a general fireworks ban applies in three out of four municipalities this year. A previous region-wide ban introduced in 2019 was struck down by Belgium’s Constitutional Court in 2020, but local authorities continue to impose restrictions, meaning that in many areas no fireworks will be allowed to mark the New Year.
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