Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Many Dutch people travel to Belgium for cheaper fireworks due to stricter Dutch laws. Recently, police seized 20 kilos of illegal fireworks in Lanaken and Maasmechelen. Chief Dirk Minten emphasizes safety, allowing only 1 kilo per person.
Every year, many Dutch people cross the border into Belgium to buy fireworks because it is cheaper and the regulations are less strict. Recently, police in Lanaken and Maasmechelen seized 20 kilos of illegal fireworks during a joint operation with Dutch officers to identify buyers. The main reason they keep returning is that the laws regarding fireworks in the Netherlands are much stricter, and they find better prices in Belgium.
How are Dutch police ensuring fireworks safety at the border?
We’re not checking people to give them fines; we want to keep everyone safe,
says Dirk Minten, the police chief in the Maasland area.
Every year, many Dutch people come to Dilsen-Stokkem and Maaseik to buy fireworks. There are more checks now because buying fireworks is allowed, but you can only buy up to 1 kilo. Minten explains that buying more than that can cause dangerous explosions, so they are doing extra checks to help prevent accidents.
In the Maasland police zone, there are two big fireworks shops, one in Dilsen-Stokkem and one in Maaseik, and both are being watched closely. The police are checking cars that come and go to see if they have too many fireworks. They are also checking at the borders. So far, they have caught some people trying to take more fireworks than allowed, even before the busy season starts. If someone is caught with too many fireworks, the police will take them away and write a report, and they might get a fine.
