26 Mayors in Limburg Anticipate Problems with New Fireworks Rules

Heerlen, July 7, 2026 

To: His Excellency the Minister of Justice and Security, Mr. D.M. van Weel, and Her Excellency the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Ms. A. Bertram, Postbus , 2500 EH THE HAGUE 

Subject: Implementation Challenges with the New Fireworks Regulations 

Dear Minister van Weel and State Secretary Bertram, 

In this joint letter, we would like to bring to your attention the substantial implementation challenges we foresee in connection with the implementation of the new fireworks regulations. We believe the new regulations are unenforceable under the current conditions and see serious risks regarding their enforceability. Below, we will explain, based on various arguments, why we believe the new fireworks regulations are unenforceable. 

1. 1. Impossibility of Implementation Given Current Enforcement Capacity We have determined that the proposed regulations, in their current form, cannot be implemented within the available municipal capacity. The key point here is that the resources required for monitoring and enforcement far exceed the capacity that our organizations can provide. 

   The updated enforcement plan states that “In the run-up to the 2026/2027 New Year’s Eve, we will explore what the role and responsibilities of the special enforcement officers (BOAs) will be with regard to enforcing the fireworks ban (see one of the actions under 7.4), and whether the powers of Domain I and Domain II special enforcement officers should be brought more into alignment.” The current role and responsibilities of special enforcement officers regarding fireworks enforcement are clearly defined based on practical circumstances and cooperation agreements with the police. These definitions take into account the differences in their respective powers. Due to various factors, our municipalities do not have enough special enforcement officers on staff to carry out these and other regular duties. The entry into force of the general fireworks ban and the need to monitor compliance with this ban and to take enforcement action where necessary further exacerbate the capacity shortage. We support the general fireworks ban, but at the same time, we are also convinced that more new regulations should be accompanied by increased enforcement capacity. 

2. Within the current enforcement capacity, there is a recertification problem. Our municipalities face structural shortages of certified enforcement personnel. As a result, we as mayors are forced—even just for our regular duties—to make choices about where to allocate our scarce resources. The leeway that your Ministry sees within the exemption provision—to make choices based on local circumstances—does not exist because, on the one hand, we are already dealing with special enforcement officers who do not have valid recertification, and on the other hand, because the Police Academy will cease recertifying special enforcement officers starting in 2026. Locally and regionally, municipalities in Limburg are seeking their own solutions to the structural need for timely recertification of their special investigating officers. Whether these solutions will prove effective in the long term depends in part on external organizations and factors. As a result, we anticipate that there will be an insufficient number of certified special investigating officers available within the remaining time to carry out the necessary work. 
3. Disproportionate Implementation Burden on Municipalities The proposed regulations—the Safe New Year’s Eve Decree, which includes the option for mayors to grant exemptions, and the Enforcement Plan—place a significant portion of the responsibility for procedural handling, preventive and monitoring oversight, and enforcement and risk management on municipalities. At the same time, these rules provide too few options for fulfilling that responsibility. Local implementing organizations are not equipped to handle this, whether in terms of knowledge, resources, or staffing capacity. The mere introduction and implementation of the exemption option alone would require an increase in local administrative capacity to verify whether applicants meet all Requirements proposed Requirements. This applies both to the formal requirements that applicants and the application itself must meet, as well as to the requirements governing transportation, storage, and the setting off of fireworks. On top of that are the requirements for ensuring the public’s safe participation in such an event. For these reasons, we have adopted a joint position not to grant any exemptions. 
4. Safety Risks for Municipal Employees Limited deployment options and a shortage of specifically trained personnel create a situation in which the safety of municipal employees, including special enforcement officers (BOAs), is compromised. This risk is particularly evident during New Year’s Eve. The events (including the use of the much-discussed “fireworks machine gun” against emergency responders) during the past New Year’s celebrations have repeatedly demonstrated that the improper use of firecrackers and decorative fireworks poses serious safety risks to police and emergency responders. This is all the more true when our special enforcement officers are given additional powers—and thus additional responsibilities—regarding the enforcement of the fireworks ban. We assume from the outset that our special enforcement officers will face additional safety risks. As an employer of special investigating officers, we have a duty—or duty of care—to protect our officers from certain risks. And that is why, as their employer, it feels absolutely wrong to us to deploy our officers to enforce the fireworks ban when we already know in advance that it will entail serious safety risks. 5. Limited Police Capacity We believe that there is insufficient police capacity available within the Limburg unit to address all safety issues. As a result, the performance of regular police duties is already under strain. We have previously raised this concern (on multiple occasions) through the “Netwerk Veilig Limburg” steering committee, and it is also evident from Professor Hoogenboom’s research report: “Am I from Limburg, the National Police, or the Minister?” by Professor Hoogenboom. Consequently, the support needed for adequate enforcement of the new regulations is not available. Creating an exception to the fireworks ban will, from a local perspective, place additional pressure on the available police capacity for maintaining public order. And this comes on top of all the challenges we’re already facing in Limburg. This is evident from the national rankings alone, in which we’ve consistently scored high—in a negative sense—for years (underworld map, quality-of-life barometer, safety monitor, etc.). Furthermore, it does not reassure us that, in the event of any problems related to a granted exemption (e.g., improper storage and/or transport of fireworks, etc.), we cannot count on support from the police. This is partly due to the following statement: “The mayor grants the exemption, and in our view, that does not mean you should go directly to the police, because this concerns rules related to an administrative measure that a mayor takes on his own. There are other agencies for that…”—a statement made by the police’s national fireworks coordinator during a broadcast of *Nieuwsuur* on January 17, 2026. This statement does not align with the current reality and division of responsibilities within the municipal safety domain. 6. Border Location and Availability of Fireworks Regulations regarding the sale and use of consumer fireworks are not the same in all neighboring countries. Our municipalities border directly on Germany and/or Belgium. In Belgium, for example, the sale of fireworks is permitted year-round. In addition, there are differences in the types of fireworks that may be sold. These differences mean that Dutch residents purchase fireworks in Belgium and Germany that are not permitted in the Netherlands and are not (legally) available for sale here. As a result, we, as border municipalities, face additional challenges in enforcing the fireworks ban. 

Request for Administrative Consultation and Support 

In light of these common challenges, we ask that you: 

• An administrative meeting to be held shortly; 
• Review of the implementation plan; 
• Additional capacity support and clear national guidelines; 
• Exploration of implementation models that are feasible for municipalities. 

Finally, we are committed to ensuring a safe and manageable New Year’s Eve celebration. We are confident that our joint assessment can contribute to a constructive approach to addressing the implementation challenges. We look forward to your response and an invitation to discuss this matter. 

Sincerely, On behalf of the Limburg mayors listed below:

Mr. R. Wever, M.A., Mayor of Heerlen 

Dr. P. Dassen-Housen, Mayor of Kerkrade 

Mr. R. de Boer, Esq., Mayor of Landgraaf 

Ms. W. van der Rijt, mayor of Brunssum 

Mr. E. Geurts, Engineer, Mayor of Beekdaelen 

Mr. D.P.W. Joppe, mayor of Voerendaal 

Ms. S. Scheepers, mayor of Simpelveld 

Mr. A. Krijnen, mayor of Eijsden-Margraten 

Ms. N. Ramaekers, mayor of Gulpen-Wittem 

Mr. J. Niederer, Acting Mayor of Meerssen 

Mr. H. Leunessen, mayor of Vaals 

Mr. D. Prevoo, mayor of Valkenburg aan de Geul 

Ms. D.H. Schmalschläger, mayor of Leudal 

Mr. J.M.A. van Agtmaal, Engineer, Mayor of Roerdalen 

Dr. J.W.M.M.J. Hessels, Mayor of Echt-Susteren 

Ms. Y.F.W. Hoogtanders, mayor of Roermond 

Mr. D. Schneider, mayor of Maasgouw 

Ms. C. Van Basten-Boddin, Esq., Mayor of Beek 

Mr. W.A.G. Hillenaar, Esq., Mayor of Maastricht 

Ms. M.F.H. Leurs-Mordang, mayor of Stein 

Mr. H. Verheijen, Esq., Mayor of Sittard-Geleen 

Mr. J.M.T. Teunissen, mayor of Gennep 

Dr. M.H.D. Rauner, Mayor of Bergen 

Mr. M.C. Uitdehaag, B.Eng., Mayor of Venray 

Mr. R.J.H. Vlecken, Esq., Mayor of Weert