It was the final yr earlier than an anticipated ban on unofficial fireworks, so the Dutch purchased them in large portions.
In line with the Dutch Pyrotechnics Affiliation, revellers splashed out a file 129 million euros (US$151 million) on fireworks.
Some areas had been designated firework-free zones, however this appeared to have little impact.
An AFP journalist in such a zone in The Hague reported loud bangs till round 3am (10am, Singapore time).
In Belgium, in the meantime, police made scores of arrests as officers in each Brussels and Antwerp had been focused with fireworks – with a New Yr’s ban on their use failing to stop chaotic scenes in each main cities.
Police used tear fuel and arrested greater than 100 folks within the port metropolis of Antwerp, the place minors as younger as 10 or 11 focused officers and emergency providers with fireworks and stones, setting hearth to bikes, vehicles and trash cans, a spokesperson informed AFP.
Authorities confiscated numerous “very harmful” skilled grade fireworks, the spokesperson mentioned. A 12-year-old baby was critically injured in a fireworks incident within the northern metropolis.
Likewise within the capital Brussels, police mentioned they had been “repeatedly” focused with fireworks, making some 70 arrests in a single day.
In Germany, two 18-year-olds died within the western metropolis of Bielefeld once they set off home-made fireworks that produced “lethal facial accidents,” native police mentioned in an announcement.
