Today is Oudjaarsdag (Old Years Day) 31 December and we are getting excited about Oudjaarsavond (Old Year's Evening). Becky and Raoul have travelled across oceans to join us and we are spending the evening with friends at Scheveningen.
We have been told that The Hague goes crazy on Oudjaarsavond with hooligans lighting fireworks and bonfires and setting fire to cars. Some of this is legal.
We have been told that The Hague goes crazy on Oudjaarsavond with hooligans lighting fireworks and bonfires and setting fire to cars. Some of this is legal.
Fireworks (vuurwerk) can be legally purchased on 29, 30 and 31 December from certified shops and can be lit starting at 10.00pm on 31 December and until 2.00am on 1 January. Many people have been ignoring this and igniting explosives over the past few days, usually stunning us awake in the middle of the night. Sean is out buying his fireworks pack now plus extra rockets.
Although usually it is not permitted to randomly set fire to objects in the street here, neighbourhood bonfires are allowed at a few locations in the city and at Scheveningen. We are told that in past years random bonfires have been made from old Christmas trees in every street. Last oudjaarsavond 40 cars were set on fire in The Hague (a benefit of being a cyclist here rather than a motorist).
Welcome to The Hague Becky and Raoul!
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