The use of fireworks by private citizens in the gardens of their homes on New Year Eve is still allowed in around half of all municipalities in Flanders. Oscare, a not-for-profit group that works with people that have suffered burns, carried out a survey of the 300 municipalities in our region. It found that around half allowed the use of fireworks by private citizens on New Year’s Eve, albeit in some cases only with the express permission of the local Mayor.
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Fireworks banned in half of all Flemish municipalities
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In West Flanders in particular many municipalities allow the use of fireworks for New Year’s celebrations at people’s homes. Despite the many well-reported incidents in which people have been maimed and in extreme cases even killed by fireworks, they still remain an essential part of New Year's celebrations for many Flemings.
In West Flanders 78.5% of municipalities still allow their residents to see in the New Year with fireworks in the gardens of their homes. In Limburg Province too this is allowed in a majority (52.4%) of municipalities.
In East Flanders (36.7%) and Flemish Brabant (33.8%), more than a third of municipalities allow residents to set off fireworks. Meanwhile, in Antwerp Province less than a quarter (23.2%) of municipalities allow firework displays at private homes.
The five Flemish provincial capitals (Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Hasselt and Leuven) have permanent bans of the use of fireworks outside of organised displays. However, Oscare says that in Hasselt and Bruges private citizens are allowed to set off fireworks without a licence on New Year’s Eve.
70% against private displays
Oscare also carried out a survey of the general public to find out what they think about fireworks. Almost 70% of the 2000 people surveyed said that they were against fireworks being set off outside organised displays. Older people seem more aware of the dangers posed by fireworks. 86.5% of the people aged 65 and over said that they are against the use of fireworks by private individuals. Meanwhile, 81% of those aged 18 and younger that were surveyed said that they are in favour of people being able to set off fireworks in private displays.