New Year’s Eve: This is how people bang in other European countries

People in Germany can currently buy fireworks for New Year’s Eve for three days. Rockets and firecrackers will be available in stores until Saturday evening. There were already large crowds in many places at the start on Thursday. However, shooting is only allowed from New Year’s Eve to the morning of January 1st, outside of prohibited zones and not too close to special buildings. What are the rules in other European countries?

Netherlands: More fireworks bans

In the Netherlands, where fireworks sales also began on Thursday, stricter rules have applied since 2020. Heavy fireworks have been banned since then. Nevertheless, large quantities of illegal firecrackers come into the country – according to police information, including in packages from the Czech Republic and Poland. In the past few weeks, more than 60 tons of such firecrackers have been confiscated.

In view of the dangers posed by banned fireworks and the general environmental impact, more and more communities are implementing bans and only allowing centralized fireworks displays. Last year there were already bans on firecrackers in twelve municipalities, including the major cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. This year four more cities were added: Arnhem, Eindhoven, Tilburg and Amersfoort.

This means that 3.1 million Dutch people – or 18 percent of the total population – now live in a municipality with a ban on fireworks for private individuals, as the public broadcaster NOS calculated. However, this hasn’t made a big difference so far: In many communities with such bans, residents estimate that a similar number of firecrackers were set off last year as before.

France: Firecrackers banned in many municipalities

In France, many municipalities have banned banging for fire safety reasons or fear of riots, such as Paris and Strasbourg. Certain categories of fireworks are reserved for professionals anyway. Many cities have organized fireworks shows instead. The most famous is certainly the one on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, where a million people welcomed the New Year last year.

Italy: There are no rockets and firecrackers in the supermarket

In Italy, rockets and firecrackers are also often set off on New Year’s Eve. In the Mediterranean country you can buy table fireworks in supermarkets, stationery stores and tobacco shops – but rockets and firecrackers for use outside the home can only be bought in shops with the appropriate sales license. They may also only be purchased by people over 18 years old. More intense firecrackers, for example with a higher proportion of black powder, may only be ignited with a license or by professionals.

Igniting fireworks on New Year’s Eve is generally permitted, although the rules for their use are stricter than in Germany. Rockets and firecrackers may not be set off in crowded places or in the immediate vicinity of people or animals. In some regions and cities, they are not allowed to be detonated in public places at all. There are also firecracker-free zones in some large cities.

Nevertheless, illegal firecrackers are in circulation every year. In Italy, entire warehouses containing large quantities of illegal firecrackers are repeatedly confiscated. The financial police recently found a warehouse near Naples with 1.2 tons of unauthorized fireworks.

Poland: Always allowed in your own garden during the day

In Poland, everyone is allowed to set off fireworks in their garden all year round – at least between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The firecrackers and rockets are only sold to adults. Fireworks can also be set off on public streets and squares on New Year’s Eve. Municipalities can impose restrictions on time and place. If you disturb the peace or carelessly handle the firecrackers, you can face fines of up to 5,000 zloty (1,150 euros). At the same time, there is a discussion in Poland about whether firecrackers should be stopped out of consideration for the animals. This is what the animal protection authority in Warsaw is demanding, for example. There will be no public fireworks display in the Polish capital this time.

Great Britain: Here too, sales only shortly before festivals

In Great Britain, every adult is generally allowed to set off fireworks on private property, but only between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Exceptions to this are Guy Fawkes Day (Bonfire Night) on November 5th, on which fireworks can be set off until midnight, as well as New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and the Hindu festival of lights Diwali, on which fireworks can be set off until 1 a.m. the following day . It is generally forbidden on streets and public places. Fireworks can only be sold in traditional stores a few days before the festivals, when longer firecrackers are permitted. Professional fireworks may only be sold by licensed dealers and only lit by professionals.

Austria: Allowed outside of town all year round

Rockets, firecrackers, fountains and other similar fireworks may be set off all year round in Austria outside of local areas. They are generally prohibited in urban areas – but according to the Interior Ministry, the mayors can allow them for a limited time. Many people issue such a regulation for New Year’s Eve. Anyone who wants to shoot must be at least 16 years old. In Austria, professional fireworks can only be used by people aged 18 and over and only by professionals with special permission. However, fireworks are prohibited in the immediate vicinity of clinics, children’s homes, retirement homes, rest homes, places of worship, animal shelters and zoos, even outside of these locations. Violations can cost up to 3,600 euros.