The damage caused to private property during the New Year celebrations is likely to be in the region of €9m, the Dutch insurers’ association said on Thursday.

The estimate is based on early claims made both via call centres and online. The final total will be higher when damage to company premises and schools, as well as medical bills, is taken into account, the Verbond van Verzekeraars said in a statement.

The association’s general director Richard Weurding said deliberate vandalism must not be tolerated. ‘We want to recover the money paid out for these sort of claims from the perpetrators, where possible,’ he said.

The initial damages bill is down €1m on last year, when New Year was also wet and windy. After the 2011/12 celebrations, the bill came to €16m and the year before that claims reached nearly €21m.