More Dutch residents considering Germany for New Year's to avoid fireworks ban

Crowd watching fireworks - Credit: - License: DepositPhotos Culture Lifestyle Entertainment Thursday, 8 October 2026 - 10:00

With a national fireworks ban in effect in the Netherlands for the first time this coming New Year's Eve, many residents are planning “firework vacations” across the border, RTV Oost reports. Booking.com, in particular, is reportedly seeing a sharp rise in Dutch travelers looking for accommodations in Germany.

Just outside Enschede, in Gronau, searches for lodging during the New Year’s holidays rose 214 percent this year and 192 percent a year prior. In Nordhorn and Bad Bentheim, the searches rose 214 and 192 percent, respectively. The queries cover hotels, apartments, full holiday homes, and vacation cottages.

A spokesperson for Booking.com stressed that the data concerns searches only, not the actual bookings. “We are, however, seeing a sharp increase in the number of searches,” the spokesperson told RTV Oost.

Several hotels in Gronau told the news outlet that they are not seeing a significant rise in Dutch bookings for the holiday period. “What may also be a factor is that guests can book with us only for a minimum of two nights,” Petra Schepers from the hotel ‘Gronau’ said.

Importing consumer fireworks from Germany is also not allowed. The fine is at least 100 euros and can rise higher. Police have also recently said they will set up illegal-firework checkpoints.

Fireworks have often been a motivating factor when residents of the Netherlands search for a winter getaway, especially for anyone looking to get away from explosions and chaotic New Year’s scenes. Holiday parks around the Waterdunen region in Zeeland saw an increase in bookings at the end of 2024 for just this reason, said vacation stay chain Parkvakanties at the time.

Municipalities can still grant exemptions for firework shows organized by, for example, associations. But by the end of September, 198 of 231 municipalities said they will not grant such permission, while another 33 said they will accept requests from associations.