Photo Shutterstock A significant portion of students celebrating New Year’s Eve in Wageningen are prohibited from using fireworks to do so. The fireworks-free zones that the city has announced encompass Dijkgraaf, Bornsesteeg and Hoevestein buildings and the Campus Plaza complex.
The fireworks-free zones are mainly situated around schools, nature areas, large private properties (including WUR) and Wageningen-Hoog. Lighting fireworks is permitted in residential neighbourhoods and the city centre. The municipality’s decision to implement fireworks-free zones stems from the outcome of a survey among residents and discussions with emergency responders.
In front of the house
The city reports that the survey shows differences in opinions. Some favour a ban on all fireworks. Many residents do not want fireworks-free zones in their own neighbourhoods, while others want to be able to light fireworks in front of their homes. The result is ‘a balance between the fun of fireworks and safety and liveability for all our citizens’, says Mayor Floor Vermeulen.
University district
In practice, this means that a significant portion of the students will not be able to light up fireworks in front of their residences. A municipal spokesperson explains that these places are considered to be part of the university district* and hence a fireworks-free zone. Moreover, fireworks are restricted to New-Years Eve, from 18.00 to 02.00 hrs
The fireworks policy will be evaluated in the new year. The zones are the first step towards a full ban on fireworks. The municipal council has indicated it wants to implement a ban ‘within reasonable time’. Wageningen’s ‘fireworks map’ is available here.
