# Boy, 15, arrested for heavy fireworks in Puttershoek

> Police say they will step up surveillance and act strictly against anyone who breaks the gathering ban in the village after Saturday's arrest.

Society · published 2026-11-05 19:53 · https://nlnow.nl/a/police-arrest-boy-15-for-heavy-fireworks-in-puttershoek/

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy in Puttershoek on Saturday evening, 31 October, for disturbing public order by setting off heavy fireworks. Officers were in the village because they expected unrest, and were enforcing a ban on gatherings (samenscholingsverbod).

Despite the ban, young people gathered at several places in the village that evening, police said. In a number of cases they set off heavy fireworks, including the boy who was arrested. He will have to answer for it later.

Police and local enforcement officers will patrol the village more and step up enforcement in the period ahead. "We will come down hard on anyone breaking the ban on gatherings and on fireworks nuisance," police said.

That means police and enforcement will step in immediately when groups cause a nuisance or disturb public order, according to the statement.

## Background

- **samenscholingsverbod**: A samenscholingsverbod is a temporary ban on gathering in public, issued for a specific area, in English usually called a ban on gatherings. The mayor (burgemeester) can impose it when disorder or disturbances are expected, so that police can disperse groups and prevent trouble before it starts. It applies only to the designated area and for a limited period, and it is announced publicly so residents know where and when it is in force.

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