The beaches of Scheveningen and Duindorp will be lit up by bonfires again this New Year’s Eve following a three-year ban.

The annual event was scrapped when a large number of cinders from the Scheveningen bonfire blew across the beach and damaged dozens of cars and homes.

Vuurregen #Scheveningen. Daken, bosjes, auto’s staan in brand van het brandende ad van het Vreugdevuur. pic.twitter.com/7P1DZe6fxM

— Danny Vis (@vis_danny) January 1, 2019

An inquiry later found confirmed that the bonfire – which towered 48 metres above the beach – was 13 metres higher than permitted, but officials did not intervene and stop the blaze.

The scandal let to the resignation of mayor Pauline Krikke.

Current mayor Jan van Zanen has now given permission for the bonfires to go ahead but under ‘strict conditions’ as to size. The piles cannot be higher or wider than 10 metres so as not to jeopardise public safety, local broadcaster Omroep West said.

The ban on bonfires led to riots two years ago and again during the coronavirus restrictions.