Almost 400 people were treated in hospital accident and emergency departments for firework injuries during the New Year festivities, a drop of 9% on 2017, according to hospital figures.

At least 12 people underwent the amputation of one or more fingers and three-quarters of the victims were under the age of 25. Almost half were injured by fireworks set off by someone else, officials said.

At the same time, a further 700 to 800 people were treated in 24-hour doctors’ surgeries for more minor injuries. This too is down on 2017 and continues a downward trend which set in several years ago.

Police have also issued final arrest figures for during the festivities. In total, 328 people were picked up, compared with 369 in the previous year. In particular, the number of people arrested for fighting is down by a quarter, the NRC reported.

While the number of attacks on police officers is up from 27 to 59, there were fewer attacks on firemen and ambulance staff. Nevertheless, the emergency services were called out 3,150 times during last Monday night’s New Year celebrations, a rise of almost 50% on 2017.

Referendum

In Amsterdam, the city council is considering organising a referendum to decide if private individuals should be allowed to set off fireworks at New Year. Sources told the Parool that the idea is serious and part of wider plans to involve the public more in city decision-making.

Last November mayor Femke Halsema said she planned to ban fireworks from the city apart from in special zones from this year.

The Dutch local authorities association VNG has called for a national ban on New Year fireworks, but the cabinet has consistently defended them as part of a ‘valued tradition’.