Overview
- Overnight, multiple vehicles burned out in Utrecht, Zeist and Dordrecht, with police investigations under way after reports of a loud bang, a burned jerrycan near one scene and other signs of possible arson.
- Mayor Alexander Pechtold extended Delft’s designated security‑risk area through 2 January, enabling preventive searches following illegal fireworks, scooter and car fires and harassment of passersby, with extra patrols and camera surveillance in place.
- Emergency services report reinforced staffing, protective gear and de‑escalation protocols for New Year’s Eve, citing heavier fireworks and rising aggression toward responders and urging the public to act responsibly.
- Fireworks retailers and importers report a sales surge tied to an anticipated national consumer ban, as police seized nearly 1,200 kilos of fireworks at the Beek‑Ubbergen border crossing.
- Other updates include the Public Prosecution Service confirming a truck driver is suspected of drug trafficking after his vehicle was located nearby, and burst water mains that left dozens without water and flooded streets in parts of Rotterdam.