Do not set off fireworks

Here's how to do it

Setting off fireworks releases a lot of particulate matter and sometimes heavy metals, which are very harmful to your health. These heavy metals can also end up in plants and food through the soil.

Tips

• Do not set off fireworks.
• If you do want to set off fireworks, follow the fireworks regulations in the Netherlands / Flanders . Just like in the Netherlands, each city/municipality in Flanders can develop its own regulations, for example, allowing only low-noise fireworks to protect animal welfare.
• Inform people about the reasons why it's better not to set off fireworks: they're unhealthy and dangerous, they pose a fire risk, they cause animal suffering, and in the event of a problem, they unnecessarily burden emergency services.
• If you're bothered by the smoke, stay indoors, keep the windows closed temporarily, and turn off your ventilation system. People with lung problems or poor health can be particularly affected by fine dust from fireworks.
• Clean up fireworks debris quickly and properly, for example with New Year's sweeps.
  

Learn more

Setting off fireworks releases particulate matter, chemicals, and heavy metals (such as copper, barium, strontium, and antimony) into the air, soil, and groundwater. Fireworks consist primarily of gunpowder. Decorative fireworks also contain heavy metals. Illegal fireworks are more dangerous and harmful to the environment because they often contain more gunpowder and highly harmful substances such as cadmium and perchlorate.

More information

• Fireworks (Milieu Centraal, Netherlands)

• Fireworks regulations (National government, Netherlands)

• I bang without fireworks (Fire Department, Flanders)

• Fireworks measurements 2021/2022 – now with particulate matter and noise (RIVM, Netherlands)